Establishing intravenous access in an emergency situation

Obtaining emergency intravenous access in a peripherally shut down patient can be challenging even for the most experienced clinician; however, it is paramount for the delivery of life saving drugs and fluids. Ultrasonography has been used for guided peripheral access but has shown no advantage being user-dependant.1 ,2 The authors use a simple technique which involves applying a tourniquet above the elbow and establishing intravenous access in the dorsum of the hand with a blue (22G) venflon. The tourniquet is left on and immediately 100 ml of normal saline is infused by compressing the …