» Time
» Efficacy
» Safety
» Patient Friendly
» Central Line Adjunct
» Evidence-Based Practice
» Professional Associations
» Multiple Clinical Settings

Time

Time – sometimes your patient doesn’t have it. Whether you’re initiating a sepsis protocol, therapeutic hypothermia or just need to establish vascular access, there’s nothing faster – or easier – than the intraosseous route.

The EZ-IO can be inserted into the proximal humerus, proximal tibia or distal tibia within seconds – providing six different sites for immediate access to the central circulation. Rapid vascular access can be critical in a variety of clinical settings:

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Efficacy

Research studies have shown that medications administered through the proximal humerus via the intraosseous (IO) route, reach the heart at the same rate as drugs given through a central line – even during cardiac arrest.^1,2 With EZ-IO, clinicians can reduce or eliminate higher-risk emergent central lines, while gaining effective vascular access within seconds. Success rates for EZ-IO insertion average 92-97%.

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Safety

Historically, intraosseous (IO) research has reported very low complication rates of less than 1%.³ The vast majority of these complications are minor, such as extravasation and needle removal issues. With advanced EZ-IO technology, overall IO safety is further improved, and provides a very low-risk option for vascular access.

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Patient Friendly

The EZ-IO’s advanced technological platform provides greater precision on penetration of the bone, and greater clinician control than devices using older IO technology (Figure 1). EZ-IO technology provides the clinician a precise, controlled insertion.

• Vein preservation has become an important goal for patients with a history of difficult vascular access. For short-term medication or fluid therapy (<24 hours), IO is an ideal solution. Rapid IO access can obviate the need for central line placement, or avoid prolonged, painful attempts at peripheral access.
• Responsive or awake patients. Administration of 2% lidocaine IO should be considered prior to flush, fluid or medication administration. For most patients, IO infusion pain is managed well with lidocaine (see Directions for Use).

Figure 1

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Other Benefits:

Central Line Adjunct

For optimal utilization, the EZ-IO can function as:

• An alternative for high-risk femoral lines
• A central line alternative when vascular access is required for less than 24 hours
• An ideal complement to emergent central lines, when insertion protocol cannot be followed

» Find out more about the IO role and central venous lines
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Evidence-Based Practice

Vidacare supports evidence-based medicine. More than 25 independent clinical studies of the EZ-IO have been published in the literature, with over 3000 patients participating. There were no serious complications or infections noted in these clinical studies. Early IO use is endorsed by the following organizations:

• American Heart Association (AHA)
  • ACLS and PALS guidelines
• Consortium on Intraosseous Vascular Access in Healthcare Practice
• European Resuscitation Council (ERC)
• International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR)
• National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP)

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Professional Associations

The following organizations have supported position papers on IO access and encourage nurse utilization of IO technology:

• Infusion Nurses Society (INS position paper)
• Emergency Nurses Association (ENA endorsement)
• American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN endorsement)

The INS particularly supports use of IO access by registered nurses, as responsibility for vascular access has traditionally been within their purview.

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Multiple Clinical Settings

Whether your patient is crashing and requires resuscitation, or simply needs intervention for medications, fluids, or blood products, the EZ-IO can help. When traditional vascular access is difficult or impossible to obtain in emergent, urgent or medically necessary cases, THINK IO .

EZ-IO access may be the optimal choice for:

• Hypothermia protocols
• Renal disease patients
• Sepsis
• Obesity
• Resuscitation
• Sickle cell crisis
• Burns
• Diabetics
• Vein preservation in patients with overused or limited access
• Elderly patients
• Rapid anesthesia
• Special procedures
• Psychiatric emergencies
• Any patient with difficult vascular access

Clinical settings where EZ-IO can benefit patients:

• Emergency Department
• Rapid Response/Code Teams
• Critical Care Units
• Anesthesiology
• Surgical and Perioperative Areas
• Interventional Radiology/Special Procedures
• Obstetrical, Neonatal and Pediatric services

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References