Adult intraosseous infusion in accident and emergency departments in the UK.

OBJECTIVE A postal survey was conducted to gain an overview of current opinion and practice relating to intraosseous infusion in adult resuscitation in accident and emergency (A&E) departments in the UK and to use the results to generate debate in light of published and personal experience. METHODS Questionnaires were sent to 559 departments listed in the 1996 British Association for Accident and Emergency Medicine directory. Three hundred and thirty two (59%) were returned and the 157 (28%) consultant led departments with more than 30,000 new patient attendances per year were examined. RESULTS Seventy four per cent of respondents were aware that intraosseous infusion could be used in adult resuscitation, while only seven per cent used the technique. All (100%) were involved with training their medical staff and 11% said they taught the technique for use in adults. The majority of respondents were accredited in at least one of the adult resuscitation training courses. CONCLUSIONS Numerous references appear in the literature relating to intraosseous infusion in adult resuscitation and represent a wealth of experience. The technique is taught and used in our department in contrast with the results of this survey, which demonstrate that it is infrequently taught and used in UK A&E departments. The more widespread teaching of this technique for adult use is recommended.