1887
2 - International Conference in Emergency Medicine and Public Health-Qatar Proceedings
  • ISSN: 1999-7086
  • EISSN: 1999-7094

Abstract

Intraosseous (IO) access are being widely used in resuscitation of patients with difficult intra-venous (IV) access. The United Kingdom Resuscitation Council guidelines recommend the use of IO access, after two minutes of failed IV access in adult patients or two failed IV attempts in pediatric patients. There are various complications associated with IO access such as extravasation of the infusion fluid or medications, bleeding, infection and pain1. Compartment syndrome is a rare complication associated with IO access. This is reported commonly in children where in certain cases the affected limb required amputation. We report a case where an adult patient developed compartment syndrome secondary to IO access.

A 52-year-old lady who was on dialysis for renal failure presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with septic shock. She was in peri-arrest and had a difficult IV access. Therefore an IO needle was inserted to her right tibia and resuscitation was carried out with fluids and medications. She required emergency intubation and ventilation and was later admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The following day, it was found that she developed a compartment syndrome of the right lower leg where she had the IO access.

Patient was taken to the theatre for an urgent fasciotomy of the affected leg by the orthopedic surgeons with input from plastic surgeons. She made a steady but full recovery and was discharged home later.

Compartment syndrome is a rare complication of IO access (0.6%) 1. Careful monitoring of the IO site is recommended. It is advisable to remove the IO needle once a definitive IV access is established.

1. Complication with Intraosseous Access: Scandinavian Users' Experience. Hallas et al. West J Emerg Med. 2013 Sep; 14(5): 440–443.

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/content/journals/10.5339/jemtac.2016.icepq.84
2016-10-09
2024-03-28
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  • Article Type: Research Article
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