136k views
1 vote
What sign do you look for to know you are in the right place for an IO insertion?

A: The needle moves easily in all directions within the bone
B: Fluids can be administered freely w/o soft tissue swelling
C: Pulsatile blood flow in the needle hub
D: It will yield blood return

1 Answer

3 votes

Final answer:

The correct sign for proper intraosseous (IO) insertion is when fluids can be administered freely without causing soft tissue swelling (option B) . Easy movement of the needle in the bone and blood return are not reliable signs of correct placement.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct sign to look for to know if you are in the right place for an intraosseous (IO) insertion is B: Fluids can be administered freely without soft tissue swelling. Upon successful IO insertion, the needle is properly seated within the bone marrow cavity, which allows for the free flow of fluids directly into the vascular system. If the needle was not in the right place, infusion would cause swelling due to leakage into the soft tissues.




Signs A and D, while they may sometimes be present, are not reliable indicators of correct IO placement. A correct IO placement does not guarantee easy movement of the needle within the bone, and blood return is not always seen. The absence of C, pulsatile blood flow in the needle hub, is irrelevant in determining the right placement for IO insertion; it's more a characteristic of arterial puncture.

User Anil Mathew
by
8.0k points