Intralingual injection site for emergency stimulant drugs

• Published in: Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology Vol. 32; no. 4; pp. 677 - 684
• Main Authors: Nichols, W.A., Cutright, D.E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.10.1971
• Subjects: Aminophylline - administration & dosage; Animals; Dentistry; Emergencies; Epinephrine - administration & dosage; Female; Haplorhini; Hemodynamics - drug effects; Injections; Male; Mephentermine - administration & dosage; Metaraminol - administration & dosage; Microcirculation; Mouth - blood supply; Tongue - blood supply
• ISSN: 0030-4220; 1878-2175
• DOI: 10.1016/0030-4220(71)90337-9

Microcirculation studies at this Institute have indicated a profuse supply of capillary blood to the lateral ventral aspect of the tongue muscles. The present study tested the value of this intralingual area as an injection site for stimulant drugs in an emergency. Effects of four drugs—epinephrine, aminophylline, metaraminol bitartrate, and mephentermine sulfate—were investigated after intralingual and intravenous injections. Physiologic effects monitored were the electrocardiograph reading, respiratory rate and depth, pulse rate, and blood pressure in ten adult monkeys, with the pattern of drug injection varied in different animals. For all drugs tested by both injection routes, no physiologic effect required more than 35 seconds to reach its maximum. In each case the physiologic response occurred in sufficient magnitude, time, and duration to result in resuscitation.