Intraosseous infusion is a method of obtaining vascular access that has long been in existence and has attracted renewed interest over the past decade.

It is an easy, safe, rapid and effective alternative method for vascular access in emergency clinical care and prehospital situations.

Intraosseous access can be used for administration of fluids, medication, analysis of electrolytes, blood type and blood gases.

The proximal end of the tibia is the most common location for intraosseous infusion. To make insertion easier, over the past decade a number of new intraosseous needles have been developed.

Guidelines from e.g. the European Resuscitation Council and guidelines for advanced trauma life support (ATLS) currently recommend the use of intraosseous needles in the emergency setting, in trauma and non-trauma situations, in both children and adults as alternative for peripheral vascular access. This will increase the use of the intraosseous needles in the future.

Awareness of indications, contra-indications and complications of intraosseous infusion should therefore be improved.