Study Finds Intraosseous Infusion is Equivalent to Intravenous Infusion During Therapeutic Hypothermia

SAN ANTONIO–(BUSINESS
WIRE)–The results of a study conducted by Vidacare Corporation comparing
whether Intraosseous (IO) vascular access may be used to infuse chilled saline
as effectively as peripheral intravenous (IV) access to achieve therapeutic
hypothermia found no statistical difference between the two routes. The
findings were announced on January 12 at an oral presentation at the National
Association of EMS Physicians® 2012 Annual Meeting by Dr. Larry J. Miller and
the Science and Clinical team from Vidacare Corporation, makers of the EZ-IO®
Intraosseous Infusion System.

The study [Abstract #2], “Infusing Chilled Saline Through
the Intraosseous Route is Equivalent to Infusion Through the Intravenous Route
in Reducing the Core Temperature in Swine,” investigated whether Intraosseous
(IO) vascular access may be effectively used to infuse chilled saline to
achieve therapeutic hypothermia (TH) as an alternative to peripheral
intravenous (IV) access. The study found that IO and IV temperature reductions
were statistically equivalent and concluded no clinical or statistical
difference between IV and IO when comparing the two routes for infusion of
chilled saline for therapeutic hypothermia.

The research study used the EZ-IO® Intraosseous Infusion
System – the first battery-powered device to establish immediate vascular
access and the only IO device which is FDA cleared for humeral insertion. The
EZ-IO is used by 90 percent of US advanced life support ambulances and over
half of US Emergency Departments, as well as the US Military.

Established in 2001, Vidacare Corporation is the developer
of a broad technology platform that is defining the field of intraosseous
medicine. Current products include the EZ-IO® Intraosseous Infusion System, the OnControl™ Bone Marrow System and the OnControl™ Bone Access System, and applications include
vascular access, emergency and disaster medicine, oncology and spinal surgery.
Vidacares focus on enhancing clinical efficacy, patient safety and comfort,
and reducing complications and their associated costs, has resulted in its
devices becoming the recognized technology standard. Privately held, the
company is based in San Antonio,
Texas, and its products are
marketed in over 50 countries worldwide. www.vidacare.com

Posted by Sean Fenske, Editor-in-Chief, MDT