How do you secure an IO needle
Christopher Lucas
Published Apr 12, 2026
Place the padded mask over the IO needle. The IV tubing can be threaded through the hole at the top of the mask. Secure the mask by wrapping circumferential tape around the extremity and mask as a unit. This mask trick works whether the IO needle is in the tibia, femur, or humerus.
How do I know if IO needle is in place?
Use a twisting motion with gentle but firm pressure. until there is a sudden release of resistance as the needle enters the marrow space. If the needle is placed correctly, it should stand easily without support.
How do you insert a tibial IO?
Distal tibial The malleoli sites are approximately 3 cm proximal to the medial malleolus in the midline. Place a finger directly over the medial malleolus, move up to 3 cm, palpate the anterior and posterior edges of the tibia to make sure that the IO needle is inserted in the central portion where the bone is flat.
How do you ensure proper IO placement?
A properly placed IO line must be through the cortex of the bone and situated within the marrow cavity. Standard methods for confirmation of IO placement include aspiration of bone marrow, firm placement of the IO needle into the bone, and no evidence of extravasation.When should IO access be attempted before vascular?
Indications. IO access is the recommended technique for circulatory access in cardiac arrest. In decompensated shock IO access should be established if vascular access is not rapidly achieved (if other attempts at venous access fail, or if they will take longer than ninety seconds to carry out.)
What site is the first choice for intraosseous infusion?
The proximal tibia, humeral head, and sternum are the preferred sites in adults. The distal femur, proximal tibia, and distal tibia are preferred sites for infants and neonates.
How bad does an IO hurt?
The procedure is both safe and effective in children and adults. IO access can be extremely painful. However, the patient’s pain level can be reduced to a bearable level by injecting 2% preservative-free lidocaine through a special port before starting the infusion.
Which of the following is a contraindication to intraosseous access?
Contraindications for intraosseous access include the following: Infection at the entry site. Burn at the entry site. Ipsilateral fracture of the extremity.How do you start an intraosseous line?
Place the needle through the skin, perpendicular and down to the bone. Activate the IO drill or gun until the IO needle anchors in place, OR manually TWIST the needle clockwise (don’t push) with gentle firm pressure until the bone gives (loss of resistance technique) and the needle locks into place.
Where do you put IO on an infant?The principle of IO access is to insert a needle into the medullary cavity of a long bone, usually the proximal (at least 10 mm from the tibial tuberosity [16]) or distal tibia, distal femur [17], or head of humerus.
Article first time published onHow do you insert an intraosseous cannula?
Insert the intraosseous needle Firmly hold the drill or the manual needle in your dominant hand. Position the needle tip at the point of insertion, perpendicular to the long axis of the bone. Point the needle slightly (10 to 15 degrees) away from the joint space and growth plate.
How does IO infusion work?
Intraosseous infusion (IO) is the process of injecting medications, fluids, or blood products directly into the marrow of a bone; this provides a non-collapsible entry point into the systemic venous system. … Intraosseous infusions allow for the administered medications and fluids to go directly into the vascular system.
Can you push blood through an IO?
Any intravenous fluid, blood products or routine resuscitation drugs can be administered through the IO route. Complications for short-term use are relatively rare compared to the advantages for a child who needs rapid administration of blood or fluid.
What Cannot be given via IO?
Contraindications to IO insertion include fracture at or proximal to the insertion site, cellulitis or other infection overlying the insertion site, prior attempt at the insertion site, or bone disease such as osteogenesis imperfecta or osteopetrosis.
Which condition in a child should IO access most likely be attempted before vascular?
I/O before vascular access – for cardiac arrest. Labs – lethargy, Polyuria, onset rapid, deep, labored breathing – assess blood glucose. Motor vehicle accident, immediate intervention for decreased level of consciousness.
Why is IO infusion painful?
IO Infusion Pain in the Conscious Patient Use of the IO route in the conscious patient creates a new challenge due to the presence of numerous sensory receptors within the non-collapsible and non-expandable marrow cavity.
Can nurses do intraosseous?
The Emergency Nurses Association and ACEP both have positions that support the use of intraosseous (IO) vascular access to include insertion by nurses. … Nurses say that doctors are unfamiliar, uncomfortable, and resistant to using IO. Doctors say that nurses are unfamiliar, uncomfortable and resistant to using IO.
How long does intraosseous last?
The intraosseous needle may remain in situ for 72 to 96 hours, but it is best removed within 6 to 12 hours, as soon as an alternative site of intravascular access has been established. The intraosseous route provides fast and reliable vascular access in emergency medical situations.
Can dextrose be given io?
Answer: Dextrose can be given via IO. Literature reports that the problem with dextrose and bone marrow is seen with long term administration / infusions of dextrose IO rather than in an emergency situation – temporary and once or twice for a single patient – when bolused and flushed.
How do you insert an intraosseous catheter?
Humerus An IO catheter can be placed into the flat portion of the greater tubercle of the humerus. In most patients, the needle is introduced on the craniolateral aspect of the greater tubercle, perpendicular to the long axis of the leg. The needle is angled just slightly caudally.
Is Io a central line?
IO techniques have fewer serious complications than central lines, and they can be performed much faster than central or peripheral lines when vascular collapse is present. IO insertion is recognized to be both safe and effective in all children and adults.
What medications can you give through an IO?
While all resuscitation drugs can be given by the IO route, administration of ceftriaxone, chloramphenicol, phenytoin, tobramycin, and vancomycin may result in lower peak serum concentrations. The most common adverse effect seen with IO use, extravasation, has been reported in 12% of patients.
How fast can you run fluids through an intraosseous cannula?
The maximum rate of administration through the IO needle was reportedly equivalent to a 21 G peripheral cannula [23]. The flow rates of an intravenous cannula are typically in the range of 200 (16 G peripheral cannula) to 20 ml/min (24 G peripheral cannula) [30].
Can you give calcium chloride through an IO?
A review of common resuscitation medications given during cardiac arrest showed the intraosseous route to be efficacious and safe for medications including, but not limited to, adenosine, calcium chloride, dextrose, epinephrine, lidocaine and sodium bicarbonate.
Can you Io a neonate?
Gaining vascular access in a neonate during cardiopulmonary resuscitation is crucial and challenging. Intraosseous (IO) access can offer a fast and reliable method for achieving emergency access for fluids and drugs when venous access fails in a critically ill child.
How and when can an intraosseous needle be used?
The intraosseous route can be used to administer all medications and fluids used during CPR, including whole blood. It may also be used to obtain initial blood samples, although acid-base analysis will be inaccurate after administration of sodium bicarbonate through the intraosseous needle.
Can you saline lock an IO?
9. Connect the appropriate IV equipment (normal saline locks not indicated in IO placement). 10. Administer the appropriate fluids and/or drugs.
Why do paramedics drill into leg?
A bone drill is used when a traditional IV cannot be secured on a patient. It could be because the patient is dehydrated, diabetic or under extreme trauma, Shubert said. The bone drill can be used to quickly insert an intraosseous needle directly into the bone to dispense fluids, medications or sugar.
Can you use a rapid infuser with an IO?
IO access is one of the quickest ways to establish vascular access for the rapid infusion of fluids, drugs, and blood products in an emergency. In adults and pediatrics after 2 peripheral IV attempts, IO is the next-line modality.
When can IO access not be used?
In a general manner, IO access should not be used in severe genetic or acquired bone diseases, imperfect osteogenesis, osteoporosis and osteomyelitis [17].
Can you give propofol io?
Two IO doses of propofol (1 mg/kg) were administered during the direct laryngoscopy to achieve a deeper plane of anesthesia. After completion of the airway examination, which required 15 min, the infant was transported to the pediatric ICU with the IO needle in place.