What to Consider When Choosing an Injection Needle

The volume of the syringe must match the volume of medication that is being administered. But how to choose the right syringe needle? This article will help you understand what criteria should be considered when choosing a needle for injection.

How to choose the right size injection needle?

When choosing a needle, first of all, it is worth starting from the method of administration of the drug that was prescribed by the doctor.

The main ways of administering drugs that are indicated by doctors in prescriptions and instructions are IM, IV and SC, which means intramuscularly, intravenously and, accordingly, subcutaneously.

Length and size of injection needle

The diameter of the needle affects the rate at which liquid flows out of the syringe and how large the puncture area will be. The injection will be less painful, carried out using a needle with a smaller diameter. However, due to the thin needle, the liquid will take much longer to pour out of the syringe, so it is undesirable to use such a needle for injections of a significant volume. Therefore, when choosing a needle, you need to find a reasonable compromise.

The needle diameter is coded according to ISO - all manufacturers are required to produce needles of the same diameter, the plastic base of which must be the same color. For this reason, people who have come across injection needles, who may not be aware of the existence of a color code chart, know that a “blue” needle is always thinner than a “green” one.
Length affects where the drug will eventually be delivered. All people under the skin is a fatty layer, and under it is a muscle. If the needle is not long enough, it may not reach the muscle.

Which injection needle to inject?

Intravenous injections:

• 0.8mm (green plastic base);
• 0.9mm (yellow plastic base);
• 1.1mm (cream plastic base).

The length of the needle for such injections is 40 mm.

Intramuscular injections:

• 0.6mm;
• 0.7mm;
• 0.8 mm.

The length of the needle for such an injection is 30-40 mm. If an injection is to be given to a newborn, a 16 mm long needle is suitable, and for preschool children, a needle up to 2.5 cm can be used.
Hypodermic injections:

Needles are used, the diameter of which does not exceed 0.5 mm and the length is 16 mm. These are such needles as:

• 0.3х9;
• 0.4x13;
• 0.5x16.

For specific procedures, such as mesotherapy, very thin needles are usually used.

What does the letter G stand for in injection needle size?

Abroad, the concept of gauge (G) is used to indicate the diameter of the needle, while the length is indicated in inches. The size of the needle gauge depends on how smaller the diameter of the needle is.

Source estet-portal.com

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