Comparison of two different intraosseous access methods in a physician-staffed helicopter emergency medical service - a quality assurance study

Does an instructional video as a stand-alone tool promote the acquisition of practical clinical skills? A randomised simulation research trial of skills acquisition and short-term retention

BACKGROUND

The effectiveness of instructional videos as a stand-alone tool for the acquisition of practical skills is yet unknown because instructional videos are usually didactically embedded. Therefore, we evaluated the acquisition of the skill of a humeral intraosseous access via video in comparison to that of a self-study with an additional retention test.

METHODS

After ethical approval, we conducted two consecutive studies. Both were designed as randomised controlled two-armed trials with last-year medical students as independent samples at our institutional simulation centre of a tertiary university hospital centre. In Study 1, we randomly assigned 78 participants to two groups: Vid-Self participants watched an instructional video as an intervention, followed by a test, and after seven days did a self-study as a control, followed by a test. Self-Vid ran through the trial in reverse order. In Study 2, we investigated the influence of the sequence of the two teaching methods on learning success in a new sample of 60 participants: Vid-Self watched an instructional video and directly afterward did the self-study followed by a test, whereas Self-Vid ran through that trial in reverse order. In Studies 1 and 2, the primary outcome was the score (worst score = 0, best score = 20) of the test after intervention and control. The secondary outcome in Study 1 was the change in score after seven days.

RESULTS

Study 1: The Vid-Self (Participants n = 42) was superior to the Self-Vid (n = 36) (mean score 14.8 vs. 7.7, p < 0.001). After seven days, Self-vid outperformed Vid-Self (mean score 15.9 vs. 12.5, p < 0.001). Study 2: The Vid-Self (n = 30) and Self-Vid (n = 30) scores did not significantly differ (mean 16.5 vs. mean 16.5, p = 0.97).

CONCLUSION

An instructional video as a stand-alone tool effectively promotes the acquisition of practical skills. The best results are yielded by a combination of an instructional video and self-study right after each other, irrespective of sequence.

TRIAL REGISTRATIONS

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05066204 (13/04/2021) (Study 1) and NCT04842357 (04/10/2021) (Study 2).

Resuscitation and Evaluation With Intraosseous Access: A Review of the Literature in Trauma and Non-Trauma Patients

According to trauma resuscitation guidelines, intraosseous (IO) access is appropriate when failure to gain intravenous (IV) access is present in trauma, burn, shock, or resuscitation settings for adults or when two failed attempts have been made in the resuscitation of a pediatric patient. However, their effectiveness and use have been debated due to concerns on flow rates, extravasation, compartment syndrome, and osteomyelitis. The objective of this review is to examine the current literature regarding intraosseous access in trauma resuscitation, focusing on interventions and complication rates.

Self-Efficacy in the Cannulation Technique for Intraosseous Access in Pediatric Cardiac Arrest: Egg Versus Bone

OBJECTIVES

The use of intraosseous (IO) access is recommended in cardiac arrest when peripheral venous access is not accessible. Various methodologies exist that are used for teaching and learning about cannulation of the IO route both in education and in research. The purpose of the present study was to compare self-efficacy in the cannulation technique for IO access through different techniques.

METHODS

A randomized comparative study was conducted. A total of 118 nursing students participated. The participants were randomly distributed into 2 intervention groups: chicken bone and egg. A checklist was used for data collection to evaluate the IO cannulation technique in nursing students and another to analyze self-efficacy.

RESULTS

The average total score of self-efficacy for all participants was 8.84 (standard deviation (SD) = 0.98). No statistically significant differences were found when comparing the total self-efficacy score and the intervention group ( U = 1604.500; z = -0.733; P = 0.463). No statistically significant differences were found between both groups for the average total score of the procedure ( U = 6916.500; z = -0.939; P = 0.348). The egg group carried out the IO cannulation procedure in a significantly less amount of time (M = 126.88, SD = 82.18) than the chicken bone group (M = 183.77, SD = 108.28), finding statistically significant differences ( U = 4983.500; z = -5.326; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Using an egg to teach and learn about IO access could be considered a methodology that is equally effective as using a chicken bone, with the advantage of achieving IO access in a lesser amount of time.

Comparison of placement characteristics using two intraosseous devices in canine and feline cadavers by novice users

Introduction

Intraosseous (IO) catheterization enables rapid access to systemic circulation in critical patients. A battery-powered IO device (BPIO) utilized in veterinary practice is reliable in facilitating IO catheter placement. A new spring-powered IO device (SPIO) has been developed for people but has not been tested in veterinary patients. The goal of our study was to compare placement characteristics and flow rates achieved with the BPIO compared to the SPIO in animals when operated by novice users.

Methods

Six veterinary students performed 72 catheterizations in the humeri and tibias of 12 dog and 6 cat cadavers. The user, cadaver, device, and site of placement were randomized. Flow rates were determined by three-minute infusions.

Results

In dogs, overall success rates (50% BPIO, 46% SPIO; p = 0.775) and flow rates based on location were similar between devices. Successful placement was faster on average with the BPIO (34.4 s for BPIO and 55.0 s for SPIO, p = 0.0392). However, time to successful placement between devices was not statistically significant based on location (humerus: 34.7 s for BPIO and 43.1 s for SPIO, p = 0.3329; tibia: 33.3 s for BPIO and 132.6 s for SPIO, p = 0.1153). In cats, success rates were similar between devices (16.7% for BPIO and 16.7% for SPIO, p = 1.000), but limited successful placements prevented further analysis.

Discussion

This is the first study to examine the use of the SPIO in animals, providing preliminary data for future IO studies and potential applications for training in the clinical setting.

Implementation of a low-titre whole blood transfusion program in a civilian helicopter emergency medical service

BACKGROUND

Early balanced transfusion is associated with improved outcome in haemorrhagic shock patients. This study describes the implementation and evaluates the safety of a whole blood transfusion program in a civilian helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS).

METHODS

This prospective observational study was performed over a 5-year period at HEMS-Bergen, Norway. Patients in haemorrhagic shock receiving out of hospital transfusion of low-titre Group O whole blood (LTOWB) or other blood components were included. Two LTOWB units were produced weekly and rotated to the HEMS for forward storage. The primary endpoints were the number of patients transfused, mechanisms of injury/illness, adverse events and survival rates. Informed consent covered patient pathway from time of emergency interventions to last endpoint and subsequent data handling/storage.

RESULTS

The HEMS responded to 5124 patients. Seventy-two (1.4%) patients received transfusions. Twenty patients (28%) were excluded due to lack of consent (16) or not meeting the inclusion criteria (4). Of the 52 (100%) patients, 48 (92%) received LTOWB, nine (17%) received packed red blood cells (PRBC), and nine (17%) received freeze-dried plasma. Of the forty-six (88%) patients admitted alive to hospital, 35 (76%) received additional blood transfusions during the first 24 h. Categories were blunt trauma 30 (58%), penetrating trauma 7 (13%), and nontrauma 15 (29%). The majority (79%) were male, with a median age of 49 (IQR 27-70) years. No transfusion reactions, serious complications or logistical challenges were reported. Overall, 36 (69%) patients survived 24 h, and 28 (54%) survived 30 days.

CONCLUSIONS

Implementing a whole blood transfusion program in civilian HEMS is feasible and safe and the logistics around out of hospital whole blood transfusions are manageable. Trial registration The study is registered in the ClinicalTrials.gov registry (NCT02784951).

Clinical Management of Intraosseous Access in Adults in Critical Situations for Health Professionals

There are health professionals who are unaware of the ideal management of the intraosseous route, despite the fact that it has been scientifically considered an alternative to the peripheral venous route when the patient is in critical condition. Thanks to continuous development, there has been a need to provide emergency services with materials that manage to provide satisfactory care, despite the difficulties faced by health personnel. Objectives: The objective of this systematic bibliographic review is to update the theoretical and practical knowledge and strategies for the insertion and proper management of the intraosseous route as an emergency vascular access for nursing professionals. Data sources, study eligibility criteria: The search for the articles was carried out in various scientific databases with the help of a search string (January 2015 and May 2021), which combined the keywords and Boolean operators. Study appraisal and synthesis methods: Eighteen articles were chosen after a review of 1920 database articles, following the application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: Intraosseous infusion is an effective and safe technique, which increases patient survival. Therefore, it is of crucial importance that all nursing professionals know how to handle the different intraosseous devices in situations in which it is not possible to achieve immediate peripheral venous access. Conclusions and implications of key findings: It is of great need to have devices or fast and effective alternatives that allow us to develop safe interventions by health professionals.

Intraosseous vascular access in emergency and trauma settings: a comparison of the most universally used intraosseous devices

Introduction: Obtaining successful vascular access is an essential component of the emergency and trauma setting. The modern practice of medicine advocates IO access for patients in a critical condition, especially when IV access is problematic or unobtainable. Various medical devices allowing for IO access have been coined and used in the management of critical patients.Areas covered: This study aims to review the literature regarding different intraosseous devices used to obtain vascular access (Bone Injection Gun (BIG), EZ-IO, NIO, Jamshidi, and First Access for Shock and Trauma (FAST-1) and discuss their clinical and experimental role in the emergency and trauma settings.Expert opinion: The development of medical technology contributes to an increasing number of intraosseous devices facilitating vascular access in challenging scenarios, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation, anaphylactic, or hypovolemic shock. Each of these devices provides an effective route for fluid resuscitation, drug delivery, laboratory evaluation, and shortening the timeframe for established vascular access, provided that the person obtaining the access is acquainted with the use of the device.

Prehospital Tibial Intraosseous Drug Administration is Associated with Reduced Survival Following Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A study for the CARES Surveillance Group

BACKGROUND

Recent reports have questioned the efficacy of intraosseous (IO) drug administration for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) resuscitation. Our aim was to determine whether prehospital administration of resuscitative medications via the IO route was associated with lower rates of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and survival to hospital discharge than peripheral intravenous (IV) infusion in the setting of OHCA.

METHODS

We obtained data on all OHCA patients receiving prehospital IV or IO drug administration from the three most populous counties in Michigan over three years. Data was from the Michigan Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES) database. The association between route of drug administration and outcomes was tested using a matched propensity score analysis.

RESULTS

From a total of 10,626 OHCA patients, 6869 received parenteral drugs during their prehospital resuscitation (37.8% by IO) and were included in analysis. Unadjusted outcomes were lower in patients with IO vs. IV access: 18.3% vs. 23.8% for ROSC (p < 0.001), 3.2% vs. 7.6% for survival to hospital discharge (p < 0.001), and 2.0% vs. 5.8% for favorable neurological function (p < 0.001). After adjustment, IO route remained associated with lower odds of sustained ROSC (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.63-0.81, p < 0.001), hospital survival (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.37-0.62, p < 0.001), and favorable neurological outcomes (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.30-0.57, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

In this cohort of OHCA patients, the use of prehospital IO drug administration was associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes.

Sternal Intraosseous Devices: Review of the Literature

Introduction

The intraosseous (IO) route is one of the primary means of vascular access in critically ill and injured patients. The most common sites used are the proximal humerus, proximal tibia, and sternum. Sternal IO placement remains an often-overlooked option in emergency and prehospital medicine. Due to the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq the use of sternal IOs have increased.

Methods

The authors conducted a limited review, searching PubMed and Google Scholar databases for “sternal IO,” “sternal intraosseous,” and “intraosseous” without specific date limitations. A total of 47 articles were included in this review.

Results

Sternal IOs are currently FDA approved for ages 12 and older. Sternal IO access offers several anatomical, pharmacokinetic, hemodynamic, and logistical advantages over peripheral intravenous and other IO points of access. Sternal IO use carries many of the same risks and limitations as the humeral and tibial sites. Sternal IO gravity flow rates are sufficient for transfusing blood and resuscitation. In addition, studies demonstrated they are safe during active CPR.

Conclusion

The sternal IO route remains underutilized in civilian settings. When considering IO vascular access in adults or older children, medical providers should consider the sternum as the recommended IO access, particularly if the user is a novice with IO devices, increased flow rates are required, the patient has extremity trauma, or administration of a lipid soluble drug is anticipated.