An assessment of long-term complications following prehospital intraosseous access: A nationwide study.

Background: The guidelines for Advanced Life Support issued by the European Resuscitation Council recommend considering drug delivery through intraosseous access if intravenous access to the vascular bed is not feasible or unsuccessful. Emergency prehospital intraosseous cannulation may theoretically lead to an increased risk of long-term complications such as osteomyelitis, osteonecrosis, or compartment syndrome. Such complications have previously been reported in case reports or small sample case series.

Association of intraosseous and intravenous access with patient outcome in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Here we report the results of a study on the association between drug delivery via intravenous route or intraosseous route in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Intraosseous drug delivery is considered an alternative option in resuscitation if intravenous access is difficult or impossible. Intraosseous uptake of drugs may, however, be compromised.