Section 7 - Parenterals 1 Flashcards
(139 cards)
What does parenteral mean?
- Administration by injection
- Main routes are subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intravenous
What are the advantages to parenterals?
- Rapid onset of action
- Complete and predictable bioavailability
- Avoidance of GI tract
- Reliable route for comatose, very ill, and uncooperative patients (who are experiencing preventable side effects)
- Allows high dose medication
What are disadvantages to parenterals?
- Frequent dosing
- Pain
- Cost
- Medications errors difficult or impossible to reverse
Which drugs is a parenteral route useful for?
Drugs showing unreliable GI absorption, inactivation or destruction by GI tract (extensive first-pass or mucosal metabolism)
Which patients is a parenteral route useful for?
Patients that require rapid, assured high blood levels or constant blood levels
Which health care professional has the greatest amount of information regarding parenteral products?
Pharmacists
What is a syringe?
A device for measuring injectable products
What can a syringe be made of? What does it consist of? What are the sizes of syringes?
- Can be made of glass or plastic
- Consists of barrel and plunger
- Range from 1-60 mL
What should a syringe be made of if the drug is to be stored in syringe for a protracted period of time?
Glass
Why are disposable syringes almost always used?
- Cost
- Danger of cross-contamination w/ AIDS or hepatitis
What are needles made of?
Stainless steel
As the gauge of a needle increases, what happens to diameter?
Decreases
What determines the selection of needle gauge and length?
- Site of administration
- Nature of product being injected
What are the 2 variations of needles?
1) Butterfly for pediatrics
2) Teflon or silastic cannulas for long-term use
What does a basic IV administration set consist of?
- Spike
- Drip chamber
- Tubing
- Roller clamp
- End fitting compatible w/ hub of a needle or cannula
When is a vented IV administration set needed? When is a non-vented set needed?
- Vented = rigid glass bottles
- Non-vented = flexible plastic bags
What is the function of a spike?
To allow entry into the closure of the container
What is the function of a drip chamber?
To allow the flow rate to be set
What is the function of a roller clamp?
To allow the flow rate to be adjusted
Why are filters sometimes attached to the end of the IV administration set?
- To protect the patient from particulate material
- Some sets (Buretrol) are specifically designed for drug administration
When is the subcutaneous route used?
- Vaccines
- Insulin
- Scopolamine
What is the max volume for a subcutaneous injection?
2 mL
What are the typical body sites of subcutaneous injections?
Arms, legs, abdomen
What should be done if ongoing injections are needed?
Rotate sites