Intraosseous Vascular Now Recommended Alternative Route For IV Access
San Antonio - The American Heart Association recently announced revised guidelines for Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) that now recommend intraosseous infusion (IO) as the first alternative to IV in cardiac arrest patients. Relied upon by paramedics, nurses and physicians, these guidelines strongly influence emergency procedures across the U.S. Compliance with the new ACLS protocols suggests that all cardiac arrest patients have an IV or an IO in place prior to arriving at the emergency department.
Previously, ACLS guidelines recommended delivering drugs through an endotracheal tube when an IV line could not be placed, a method that many EMS physicians believe ineffective. For the first time in American Heart Association (AHA) history, intraosseous vascular access for adults has been given Class IIa status, thereby recommending use of intraosseous infusion as the alternative of choice and confirming the scientific validity and safety of the IO route.
The intraosseous space is often referred to as a non-collapsible vein, remaining accessible even when peripheral veins collapse in cases of shock or trauma. Drugs and fluids infused via this route reach the central venous circulation within seconds.
Ray Fowler, M.D., deputy medical director of BioTel EMS system and member of the Eagles, a group of EMS directors of the 25 largest U.S. cities, said, "Until now we've had no choice but to use the endotracheal tube route. Now that we have an alternative in the form of rapid, safe and precise intraosseous access, the American Heart Association has appropriately adjusted its recommended treatment protocols for cardiac arrest patients."
According to Dr. Fowler, in addition to cardiac arrest patients, IO infusion may be particularly useful in patients such as those who are in shock or renal failure, in obese and diabetic patients, in cases of drug overdose, respiratory distress and in patients with altered mental status.
SOURCE: Vidacare Corporation