Epinephrine Auto Injector Needle Length
A recent study by a physician at the Phoenix Children’s Hospital used ultrasound to measure the distance between the skin and lateral thigh muscle in a convenience sample of 248 children ages 1 to 12 years old. The researcher concluded that the depending on the child’s weight the needle would not reach the muscle in 12% of the children that weighed less than 30kg and 30% of children that weighed greater than 30kg.
Peak concentration of epinephrine is more rapid when it is administered intramuscularly rather than subcutaneously. Thus patient response to treatment may not be as rapid if the auto injector needle does not reach the lateral thigh muscle.
After any administration of epinephrine carefully monitor your patient for the desired effect (bronchodilation and vasoconstriction). Also administer other treatments - oxygen, antihistamine, ALS intercept, etc - as indicated by local protocol. If the patient’s anaphylaxis symptoms do not resolve after the first auto-injector follow local protocols for time to wait until administration of an additional dose of epinephrine.
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Tags: Allergic Reaction, Anaphylaxis, Epinepherine, RapidCE