Re: Rectal Medication Administration

[Guest guest]

I'm sorry, but I don't understand the AIR bolus. I checked my textbook

and several others, spoke with my instructors and several other medics and

no one else understands either. In fact, I got laughed at and comments were

made about rude noises, etc. I don't intend to be mean or degrading, will

you explain what this does?

Thanks!

Jana

FW,TX

This is a really good question. I am afraid I am going to have to admit

that I don't know the answer. I am guilty of following a direction (and

worse, repeating it as gospel to others) that I don't know is correct.

All I can truly recall is that I Paramedic with Dona Ana County EMS once

told me that this was how it was to be given. I do not recall my Medical

Director at the time contradicting this information (which does not really

mean anything, I know).

My assumption (and we ALL know what that means) is that since a 1 1/4 " IV

catheter was being used for administration, you would need to use the air to

force the medication further into the rectum and reduce the odd's of and

intrafecal administration by basically creating and air pocket for the

medication to sit in.

Does anybody know the real reason for this? I can't find an answer in any

of the literature I have access to. Unfortunately my Paramedic books only

mentions that it is a route (Carolyn), or don't mention it at all (Brady,

PALS, NRP).

M. Webb

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