Feasibility of point-of-care colour Doppler ultrasound confirmation of intraosseous needle placement during resuscitation

IntroductionIntraosseous needle insertion for vascular access is a standard procedure used in paediatric resuscitation. The introduction of newer automated intraosseous devices has recently expanded its role to include resuscitation in patients of all ages. Managing resuscitation can be challenging and a misplaced intraosseous needle may confound effective resuscitation. Colour Doppler ultrasound has been recently proposed as a method to confirm intraosseous needle placement. The ability to rapidly determine the correct position of an intraosseous needle during resuscitation would allow the delivery of medication or fluid infusion into the vascular space to be verified, thus optimizing resuscitation. Furthermore, complications from intraosseous infusion extravasating into soft tissues, such as compartment syndrome, or tissue necrosis can be avoided.MethodsWe describe the point-of-care sonographic technique and colour Doppler ultrasound findings of intraosseous needle confirmation in a case series of critically ill patients requiring resuscitation, highlighting the utility of this sonographic application.ResultsColour Doppler ultrasound detected extraosseous flow in incorrectly positioned intraosseous needles, and intraosseous flow in correctly positioned intraosseous needles in six critically ill patients requiring resuscitation.ConclusionsThe use of point-of-care colour Doppler ultrasound to determine the location of both manually inserted or automated placement of intraosseous access during resuscitation is feasible, can be rapidly performed, may verify delivery of resuscitative medications or infusions, and avoid complications from extravasation.