Aspirate?

[LaneD]

I always see people aspirate to check for blood when doing and IM injection.  Anyone else told not to? That it's not necessary?

[jlaframboise]

I was told to, so I wouldn't hit a vein. I think it's important to, and it helps the T not leak out for me at least. I've seen others say it's super important too so I stick to it.

[AeroZeppelin92]

Read this:
https://www.amsn.org/practice-resources/care-term-reference/medications/question-what-current-practice-for-giving-im

It says "...yet for routine injections in the deltoid or vastus lateralis muscles, aspiration is not necessary as the sites do not contain large blood vessels."

However, I inject into my vastus lateralis (the outer quad), and I aspirate, cause that's how I was taught to do it. Although I'm aware I probably don't need to, I just do because it's habit at this point.

Id say if you were told to, just keep on doin it. If you weren't, do what makes you comfortable.

[Tossu-sama]

My fiancée does my shots and, as far as I know, doesn't aspirate. She hasn't hit a vessel yet, let's knock some wood for that...
My shots are done to the... outer quarter of the big butt muscle? I'm not good with English medical terms really so here's a picture.

[DarkWolf_7]

Depending on where you inject, hitting a vein can be pretty rare. And something I learn a long time ago is that when injecting in the muscle you can feel a bit of resistance, something you would not get from injecting into a vein.

[FTMax]

I don't. Haven't had any issues.

[CursedFireDean]

i do subq shots and was told to but I dont and have never had issues

[lionheart]

I was never told to aspirate (although I was never told not to either), but I do subq shots so I don't know if that has anything to do with it. I don't think it's really affected anything though.

[LaneD]

Thanks guys...I asked a nurse friend of mine and she said aspirating is old practice now they say you don't need to.  The reason was its unlikely you will hit a vein and aspirating doesn't accurately tell you if youre in a vessel or not....or something along those lines....but anyways its best to do whatever the nurse or doctor told you to do