Bolus (medicine)

In medicine, a bolus ( from Latin bolus, ball ') deemed to include the rapid administration of a drug or other substance to raise its concentration to the level of effective dose. The administration may take the form of an intravenous, or intrathecal injection intramusklulären.

Placement

The placement of the bolus dose depends on the desired systemic levels of the substance. An intramuscular bolus is used for the administration of a vaccine to effect a slow release of the antigen that stimulates the immune system of the body and gives it time to develop antibodies. Subcutaneous injections of Heroinabhänigen performed (so-called "skin popping ", which the bump formed by the bolus describes ), which leads to a delayed release. This means that both withdrawal symptoms such as euphoria also be reduced. A bolus is administered directly intravenously, allows a very fast response and increases the concentration of the substance rapidly to its effective dose. Typically, this is done at the beginning of treatment or after a therapeutically effective substance was removed from the bloodstream (eg by dialysis).

Diabetes

Diabetics and active in the health care personnel use boluses in order to apply fast-acting insulin in addition to basal rate. The basal rate is ensured by continuous administration of small amounts of fast-acting insulin via an insulin pump or by administering slow-acting insulin to ensure the release of glucose by the liver.

Veterinary Medicine

In veterinary medicine is meant by a bolus of a drug depot in the rumen of cows, goats and sheep. It can also mean a dose that was administered subcutaneously in a liquid form by means of a cannula. This may for example be an isotonic saline solution with the treated dehydration or kidney failure is alleviated, a widely used in domestic cats suffering. Before the full absorption, which can take several minutes or longer, the liquid remains in the form of a bolus, or ball under the skin of the animal.

Radiotherapy

In radiation therapy is understood to mean a bolus a waxy, tissue equivalent material, which is placed on the skin in order to homogenize or to modulate the dosage of the external radiation source.