Intravenous vs. Intraosseous Access for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Intraosseous (IO) parenteral access is relatively fast and easy to obtain, whereas intravenous (IV) access can be difficult. IO access is currently recommended as an option for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) when IV access cannot be immediately obtained. These researchers evaluated whether IO is a reasonable first choice for access (in preference to IV).

They conducted a secondary analysis of a large prospective trial that enrolled adults with nontraumatic OHCA who received chest compressions by emergency medical services. The main exposure was the initially attempted access method (IO or IV), regardless of whether it was successful. The primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge. Multivariable regression and pro…