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Which is the best way of breaking injection ampoules?

Dr Venk Mani
Consultant Gastro-enterologist Physician,
Leigh Infirmary, England

Q: How to break the tiny bottles for injection purposes? I have seen the nurses breaking it with the help of another bottle. If some of the particles of the bottles happens to get inside the injection bottle, what will happen to the recipient of the injection? Is there any net like facility to prevent the particles to get inside it? Please comment.

A:I agree with you that the practice of breaking ampoules you have noted is wrong. Invariably all the ampoules have a weak spot at the neck which can be severed by a blunt knife or even breakable by applying gentle pressure at this point in the neck by the index finger and thumb.