In the clinic treatment room, the patient is placed in supine or prone position, depending upon patient body habitus and preference of insertion area. Skin of the right or left inguinal or gluteal region is draped, cleaned with alcohol, and prepped with povidone iodine solution. The prepped area is anesthetized with Lidocaine 1%. |
Using sterile technique a #11 scalpel blade is used to puncture the skin, after which a sterile cannula with trocar is inserted into the anesthetized region. The trocar is withdrawn, leaving the cannula in place. Individual hormone pellets are removed from the sterile ampules with sterile forceps and then placed into the cannula. A stylet is placed into the lumen of the cannula and the pellets are inserted into the subcutaneous region. |
The cannula and stylet are then withdrawn, hemostasis obtained, steri-strips and and a sterile bandage applied. If necessary to control skin bleeding (rare), one or two sutures of 3-0 chromic. A booster injection may be administered in the gluteus, if patient symptoms warrant. |