Author Question: A 65-year-old man who weighs 180 lb (81.8 kg) is to receive 1.5 mL of a viscous antibiotic by ... (Read 66 times)

Alainaaa8 · **on:** Jul 24, 2018

A 65-year-old man who weighs 180 lb (81.8 kg) is to receive 1.5 mL of a viscous antibiotic by intramuscular (IM) injection. Which needle and syringe will be used?

a. 5/8 inch, 25-gauge needle with 5 mL syringe
b. 1 inch, 28-gauge needle with 4 mL syringe
c. 1 inch, 21-gauge needle with 3 mL syringe
d. 3 inch, 16-gauge needle with 1.5 mL syringe

Question 2

Which is the preferred IM site for injecting a 6-month-old child?

a. Dorsogluteal
b. Abdominal
c. Vastus lateralis
d. Deltoid muscle

FergA · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 24, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
It is important to correlate the syringe size to the size of the patient and the tissue mass. The usual amount injected intramuscularly is 0.5 to 2 mL. Needle lengths commonly used for adults are 1 to 1 inches long. A longer needle may be used for a significantly obese adult. Commonly used needle gauges for IM injections are 20 to 22 gauge. A 5/8 inch, 25-gauge needle is too short and too small to administer a viscous medication. A 1 inch, 28-gauge needle is too small to administer a viscous medication. A 3 inch, 16-gauge needle is too large and too long to administer medication to a patient this size.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
The vastus lateralis is generally the preferred IM site in infants because it has the largest muscle mass for that age group. The muscles are not well developed in other areas for this age group. The dorsogluteal muscle is not developed well enough in a child this age to provide a safe site for injection. The abdominal muscles are not appropriate for IM injection. The deltoid muscle is not developed well enough in a child this age to provide a safe site for injection.