Enhancing Utilisation of Intraosseous Vascular Access in Cardiac Arrest Management: Insights From a Retrospective Study

Intraosseous (IO) vascular access is a crucial intervention during cardiac arrest scenarios, providing a reliable route for emergency medication administration and fluid resuscitation in the absence of a stable intravenous (IV) line or central line. Despite its established efficacy, our retrospective study at Southampton General Hospital revealed under-utilisation rates of IO insertions during cardiac arrests. Among 131 patients studied over a year, only a minority received IO lines. Our findings underscore the need for improved awareness, training, and institutional support to optimise the use of IO vascular access in critical care settings. Our study also highlights, within the limitations of this study, the positive effect an IO has when utilised effectively, in the absence of an IV, in relation to Return Of Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC) rates highlighting and supporting the usage of IO lines in the event an IV is unattainable or difficult to insert.