Should Not The Dorsogluteal Site Be Used for Intramuscular Injection?

The present review was conducted for the purpose of explaining the reasons why the dorsogluteal site should not use for intramuscular injection based on evidence. Intramuscular injection is the method used in administering medications into a large muscle mass of the body. Muscles have larger and a greater number of blood vessels than does subcutaneous tissue, allowing faster onset of action than with subcutaneous injections. However, intramuscular injections have many risks. Therefore, to avoid complications, the nurse must have a full appreciation of the anatomy of the site and proximate anatomic structures, be able to accurately identify anatomic landmarks and site boundaries, and administer the injection with meticulous technique. Recent literature state that dorsogluteal site should not be preferred for intramuscular injection. Because the dorsogluteal site is close to the sciatic nevre and the superior gluteal nerve and artery and subcutaneous tissue at the dorsogluteal site is thick. In order to avoid complications as a result of intramuscular injection nurses knowledge need to be updated. In addition, nursing curricula should be reviewed in this direction.