Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Roy Monson on November 13, 2007 at 9:19am

In system I work in we have an autopulse which does compressions but requires us to sit the pt up, cut the shirt and secure the autopulse to the LBB. During this there is no one at the leg of the pt so an IO is a faster option. The IV pole on the strectcher is down by the feet and the IV tubing stays out of the way of everything else. In the past year we started using EZ-IO and it is a small drill with a (lack of a better explanation) self tapping 15g neddle. It is very fast and keeps people from sticking a traditional IO through and through a tib of an infant or a peds pt.

Permalink Reply by Bruce Kaufman on December 2, 2007 at 1:24pm

Roy,
I agree with you. But in maryland, we are required to try twice for peripheral IV access prior to EZ-IO usage. But in Virginia where I work full time we are going to be able to use it when we feel that peripheral IV access would be to hard. I like the EZ-IO and it is as the name says very EZ if you do it correctly.
Bruce

Permalink Reply by Roy Monson on December 2, 2007 at 9:13pm

We are required to try twice also.

Permalink Reply by Jason Brooks on December 29, 2007 at 2:06pm

Unless there is painfully obvious access, we go straight to the EZ-IO. It is faster and no looking for sites. I even used on a lady having a stroke. We tend to go on about 85% elderly calls. They have poor veins normally. Why waste the time. We also have three medics on scene.

Permalink Reply by Roy Monson on January 4, 2008 at 9:10pm

Wow three medics! We usually have one on-scence intially and within 3-5 minutes a second one. With only having one medic, I tell the EMT to get the LMA and I do the IO and it is very fast. Our rescues have Autopulses that work sometimes but when they do it is like having another person.

Permalink Reply by Bill Heizer F/F E.M/T.-P on January 6, 2008 at 11:57pm

In the system I work for , we have to attempt two peripheral lines before initating an IO. there have been only a handful of times that an IO was performed and all attempts were successful

Permalink Reply by Roy Monson on January 7, 2008 at 11:42am

It is the same in my system. It is all about documentation. We just had a code last shift and I had run on the pt before for hypoglycemia. It took a 24g in his hand to get the IV for D50. I knew he was a difficult stick and I would not be helping him to try for the 2 IVs first so I went for the IO and documented 2 IV attempts I made in my mind.

Permalink Reply by Bob on March 4, 2008 at 8:09pm

Tell me more about your statement Autoulses that work "sometimes". We field tested autopulse a year ago, had a few good saves and some failures of the unit, and I mean failure of the unit. Zoll was back the other day pushing the hard again, telling us they have not heard of any problems from anyone else. We just put the EZ-IO on our units, have not used it yet.

Permalink Reply by Roy Monson on March 10, 2008 at 2:19pm

At our station we have found that if the pt has a gut the autopulse does not work. It will do a few compression and than shut down with an advisory code. It is not worth the hassle.

Permalink Reply by Amanda 11-33 on March 16, 2008 at 3:52pm

D50 thru a 24g??? Bet that had to be super hard... and time consuming...

Permalink Reply by Roy Monson on April 7, 2008 at 10:10am

It did take a little more time!

Permalink Reply by Bob on April 8, 2008 at 11:21pm

Thanks for that autopulse update and you IO comments. In our area we see our share of large patients and elderly. We run fly cars normally staffed with 2 medics, but at times you end up alone if working an extra truck so I hear what your saying.

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