Intraosseous Vascular Access Recommended by International Committee; Committee Joins US, European Standards Setting Organizations in Stand.

SAN ANTONIO -- The International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR), a consensus organization consisting of 281 international experts representing resuscitation councils from Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America, has concluded that the "intraosseous (IO) route is safe and effective for resuscitation, drug delivery, and blood sampling for laboratory evaluation." Their recommendations are specifically targeted at pediatric resuscitation but are in line with other organizations addressing emergency vascular access for all age groups.

The importance of ILCOR's conclusion is that it is the largest evaluation of the resuscitation literature ever published, covering more than 22,000 published studies across the spectrum of their recommendations. ILCOR joins the American Heart Association in their 2005 Advanced Cardiac Life Support guidelines for the emergency treatment of cardiac arrest, along with those of the European Resuscitation Council. All three internationally known organizations advise that "the intraosseous route of drug administration is preferred to the endotracheal route," making IO access the first alternative to peripheral IV access.

Vascular access is a cornerstone of resuscitation and stabilization, essential for the rapid delivery of fluids and medications. Peripheral IV access is the least invasive method by which to achieve this, but in many cases such as multiple trauma patients, morbidly obese patients, those in cardiovascular failure, and drug overdose patients, it is difficult or impossible. IO infusion is a technique for access to the circulation through blood vessels within the bone marrow that are held open by a non-collapsible wall. Drugs infused through the IO route take about one second to reach the central circulation, equivalent to that of IV infusion. Rapid access can equate to better patient outcome.

Philip Faris, chief executive officer of Vidacare Corporation, the developer and manufacturer of the EZ-IO(R), a major innovation in intraosseous infusion technology, said that "The recommendations made by ILCOR, the American Heart Association, and the European Resuscitation Council all reasonably lead to the conclusion that IO has a vital role in emergency care. The minimal training required for its use, coupled with its flexibility in the field, in the emergency department, and in-hospital resuscitation, makes the EZ-IO a cost-effective tool for improving patient care and reducing risk."

The EZ-IO is a new class of intraosseous infusion devices associated with few complications and requiring minimal training. In addition to being used in EMS situations and in the emergency department, it is being used for war casualties. It is also being considered for mass disaster scenarios where the availability of physicians is likely to be limited and the need for vascular access in many patients simultaneously significant.

About the EZ-IO(R) Product System

The EZ-IO(R) product system by Vidacare is the best product for immediate vascular access when conventional IV access is difficult or impossible. The EZ-IO facilitates the administration of fluids and drugs to the patient securely, easily and quickly. EZ-IO's superior design yields an ease of use that allows vascular access with minimal trauma to the patient tissue or bone. Its unique design allows the user to know precisely when the insertion needle has entered the intraosseous space giving them superior control, even in the most difficult cases. EZ-IO allows emergency medicine professionals to work expertly to securely attain vascular access in seconds. The result is the ability to achieve required flow rates safely and with confidence. EZ-IO can help improve the clinical excellence of the EMS and the hospital, ultimately becoming a contributing factor in saving patients' lives. Headquartered in San Antonio, TX, Vidacare was founded in 2001. For more information, visit www.vidacare.com.