Air lock technique

[jamco54]

How many people use an airlock technique when giving large i.e. 2-3 cc injections?

Many people are nervous about the air bubble in the syringe, but in reality a very small airbubble in the syringe is useful in keeping medication in the muscle. I am a registered nurse and this is something we use alot on patients, so I am bringing this up out of experience and education.

By aspirating a small air bubble into the syringe and allowing it to sit at the top of an injection (next to the plunger), in an injection done at 90 degrees, the airbubble is the last thing to be injected creating an airlock. This bubble will keep the precious oil from seeping or spurting out the puncture hole.

For those who are afraid of an airbubble getting into the vein, well we should all be aspirating first before pressing the plunger and makeing sure the needle is not in the vein. Injecting 3cc of oil into the vein is much worse than an airbubble in the vien I can guarantee, infact an air bubble into a vein is acutally completely harmless. there are actually some test we do in a hospital that require the injection of bubbles into a vein.

 

[Twatta]

hmm

interesting! Since the days of the underground S Handbook, i've always tried to get all the air out. Thought it was bad. But you do make sence.

I guess I'll try it.

 

[hit_it_hard]

I always do this when I pin, I wasn't aware it had a particular name it just seemed like a logical thing to do to get all the oil out. Good to know this is a medically practiced method.

 

[Yohimbe33]

Also do this to get the last bit through and push the oil deep in the muscle.

Also didn't know it had a medical term

 

[Nssca]

Also do this to get the last bit through and push the oil deep in the muscle.

Also didn't know it had a medical term

It doesn't have a medical term or is anyone ever taught to do this in Nursing school or any other school..
Its safer just to put a little extra in the syringe and use the z-track method.
Funny..where all all the EMTs and board doctors that like to jump my ass when I give medical advice???

 

[Dave_19]

As long as you are not seeing blood when aspirating I agree with it. For an air embolism (air bubbles in circulating blood) to be fatal it's typically going to take more air than a few MLs in a syringe, and using the air lock you never are going to draw that much air, not to mention you won't be directly injected into a vein/artery.

 

[Yohimbe33]

I read it has to be 10ml of air to be fatal-have to look for the article.
It's literally a bubble, so virually nothing