Intensive Care Medicine (ICM) Practice Exam

What area is recommended for the administration of an intramuscular injection in adults?

1. Deltoid muscle

2. Rectus femoris muscle

3. Ventrogluteal area

4. Mid-outer thigh

The correct answer is: Ventrogluteal area

The ventrogluteal area is considered the preferred site for intramuscular injections in adults due to several key reasons. This area is located deep within the gluteal muscle mass, making it less likely to hit any major nerves or blood vessels, which improves the safety of the injection. The ventrogluteal site is also well-developed in adults, providing a larger muscle mass for administering medications, which can help facilitate absorption. Furthermore, injections into the ventrogluteal area can accommodate a larger volume than other muscle sites, making it suitable for medications that require larger doses. This site is typically found by locating the greater trochanter of the femur and using the heel of the hand to find the injection site, ensuring proper technique is employed. While the deltoid muscle is commonly used for vaccinations and smaller volume injections, and the rectus femoris can be an option in certain circumstances, they both have limitations regarding volume capacity and risk of nerve injury. The mid-outer thigh is also a viable injection site, but it carries a higher risk of injuring the sciatic nerve or large blood vessels compared to the ventrogluteal area. Thus, the ventrogluteal site remains the recommended area