Objective: The objective of this review will be to evaluate the effect of prior aspiration versus non-aspiration during intramuscular injection on the occurrence of adverse effects in adult patients.
Introduction: Aspiration is a procedure conducted prior to the administration of intramuscular medications that aims to ensure that the needle tip is inserted in the proper place. Although aspiration is a common procedure, questions have been raised about adverse effects.
Inclusion criteria: This review will consider experimental and observational studies that include or evaluate the occurrence of any adverse effects following intramuscular injection, either with or without prior syringe aspiration, in adult patients. Adverse effects will include local pain, induration, puncture of blood vessels, decreased drug effect, hematoma, or abscess. The review will exclude studies on venipuncture, aspiration biopsies, or other invasive punctures of a diagnostic nature.
Methods: This review will be conducted in accordance with the JBI methodology for systematic reviews of effectiveness. Databases to be searched will include MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, LILACS, and Web of Science, as well as sources of unpublished/gray literature, with no date or language limitations. Two independent reviewers will conduct study selection, critical appraisal, and data extraction. Studies will, where possible, be pooled in a statistical meta-analysis using the JBI System for the Unified Management, Assessment and Review of Information (SUMARI). The grading of the certainty of evidence will be determined using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.
Systematic review registration number: PROSPERO CRD42021270432.
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