Central Line Alternative

Currently, when IV insertion is challenging in the emergency room or hospital setting, a physician's first instinct is to place a central line.  However, new American Heart Association ACLS guidelines as well as numerous studies suggest that adult IO infusion provides venous access similar to that achieved by central lines faster, with less expense and lower complication rates.  Additionally, throughout the ACLS protocols and algorithms, IO is paired with IV access and is recommended over central lines and ET tube drug administration for cases of cardiac arrest.