What is the maximum time an IO can be in place?

• A. 12 hours
• B. 24 hours
• C. 48 hours
• D. 72 hours

Answer: (B)

An intraosseous line is a rapid-access route used when IV access is difficult. The key idea is that IO access is meant to be temporary, not a long-term solution. The maximum time an IO can stay in place is 24 hours. After that window, the risk of infection, including osteomyelitis, as well as local tissue injury and device-related problems, becomes higher. If continued access is still required, you should remove the IO and establish another route or place a new IO at a different site, or convert to another form of vascular access as appropriate. So 24 hours is the standard maximum dwell time. Shorter times, like 12 hours, are not typical limits, and longer times such as 48 or 72 hours raise safety concerns.