Devices

 News Release - February 23, 2006

Newly Revised European Resuscitation Council Guidelines Cite Critical Role for Intraosseous Vascular Access

IO is Now the Recommended Alternative Route for Challenging IV Access in Adult and Pediatric Patients

SAN ANTONIO--(HSMN NewsFeed)--Feb. 23, 2006--The International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) recently announced revised European Resuscitation Council (ERC) guidelines that now recommend intraosseous infusion (IO) as the first alternative to IV in adult and pediatric patients in emergency situations.(1) Relied upon by paramedics, nurses and physicians, these guidelines strongly influence emergency procedures throughout Europe. The ERC guidelines follow the recent release of the American Heart Association's revised guidelines for Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), which make virtually the same recommendations.

Previously, ERC guidelines recommended delivering drugs through an endotracheal tube (ET) when an IV line could not be placed, a method that many physicians believe ineffective, or injection through a central venous catheter. The updated ERC guidelines now state that intraosseous infusion achieves adequate plasma concentrations in a time comparable with injection through a central venous catheter, thereby verifying the effectiveness of fluid and drug administration via the IO route.(1)

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.

Summary of ERC Guidelines for Establishing vascular access in Cardiac Arrest Patients:

1. If IV access is difficult or impossible, consider the IO route.
   
2. IO can be effective in both adult and pediatric cases.
   
3. IO injection of drugs achieves adequate plasma concentrations in
   the same time as a central venous catheter.
   
4. Several studies indicate that IO access is safe and effective for
   fluid resuscitation, drug delivery and laboratory evaluation.
   
5. IO access is better than the tracheal route for giving drugs.
   

Vidacare's® EZ-IO® products, the EZ-IO AD (Adult) and the EZ-IO PD (Pediatric), have FDA and CE clearance for use in adult and pediatric patients respectively.

ABOUT VIDACARE

Since acquiring their innovative intraosseous technology from the University of Texas, Vidacare has orchestrated an exceptional effort to bring intraosseous infusion to the medical community to provide safe, fast and secure access in emergency medical situations and during routine clinical care. Vidacare is a leader in educating and providing the medical community with the means to use intraosseous space or bone marrow as a non-collapsible vein, through which emergency health professionals are better able to quickly administer life-saving drugs and fluids and physicians are able to administer medicines or obtain samples. These systems offer the potential to establish new standards of clinical excellence in the safe, rapid institution of life-saving medical therapies. Headquartered in San Antonio, TX, the company was established in 2001. For more information visit www.vidacare.com

(1) Resuscitation, Official Journal of the European Resuscitation Council, December 2005: Vol. 67. Supplement 1.

Source: Vidacare

Issuer of this News Release is solely responsible for its content.
Please address inquiries directly to the issuing company.