Intraosseous infusion for resuscitation

Area of Science:

• Pediatric critical care
• Emergency medicine
• Neonatal resuscitation

Background:

• Gastrointestinal hemorrhage is a rare but serious cause of cardiac arrest in infants.
• Intraosseous (IO) infusion is a critical route for fluid and medication delivery in pediatric emergencies when intravenous access is difficult.
• Prompt recognition and intervention are vital for favorable outcomes in pediatric cardiac arrest.

Observation:

• An 11-week-old infant presented with cardiac arrest secondary to severe gastrointestinal bleeding.
• Intraosseous access was established, and resuscitation efforts were initiated.
• The infant responded to the interventions, and hemodynamic stability was achieved.

Findings:

• Successful resuscitation from cardiac arrest was achieved using intraosseous infusion.
• The infant's gastrointestinal hemorrhage was managed effectively.
• The patient was discharged with no discernible neurological impairment.

Implications:

• This case highlights the efficacy of intraosseous infusion in pediatric emergencies, particularly in cases of cardiac arrest due to gastrointestinal hemorrhage.
• Early and appropriate management can lead to excellent neurological outcomes in critically ill infants.
• Intraosseous access should be considered a primary resuscitation technique in neonates and infants when intravenous access is challenging.