|
To Aspirate or Not, That Is a Difficult Question
The general theory lately is that it is not necessary to aspirate (pull back on the syringe) when performing injections. What do you think? As a medical assisting instructor, I decided I would teach my students to perform aspiration as part of their basic injection techniques (intramuscular and intradermal) but inform them of the CDC stance that it is not necessary. Old habits die hard for me.
Because no data exists to justify the practice of aspiration, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) does not recommend that we continue to aspirate. Their argument against the practice of aspiration during injections is compelling. They state that the injection is not given in the anatomical site of large vessels, and we would not be able insert the needle into a smaller vessel in order to inject into the blood vessel. I guess that makes sense, given the angle of the injection as well. If we do aspirate and get a flash of blood, we must remove the needle, discard all supplies, and start completely over. The ACIP further states that this would be an expensive waste of medication and supplies. Evidently, even if we do get a flash of blood, it is not indicative of being in a vessel, just that bleeding is present in the area. Again, the likelihood of being able to get into the center of a vein and actually give the injection intravenously is not a proven concern.
See t he Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), which states that although many experts advocate the practice of aspirating, no data exists to support the practice. You can view this MMWR (see bottom of page 12, under Intramuscular Injections) at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5102.pdf.
So, what do you think?
Will you continue to aspirate?
|
