EZ IO hurts

SpaceCoastRN · Feb 25, 2010

I have placed several EZIO's and I can't even recall how many standard IO's in my day. EZIO is definitely a better device and I have had conscious patients relate that it was less discomfort than a standard difficult IV insertion. Medicating with a small amount of lidocaine (2 ml of 2%) to numb the infusion site prior to admin of fluids/medications makes it virtually painless. In the end though, pain beats dead, if someone is getting an IO placed they most likely are not going to be at much of a point to argue on discomfort issues.

blondy2061h, MSN, RN · Feb 25, 2010

I'm sure it's not a pleasant experience, but I doubt they did it just for kicks. It probably saved her life.

This is an interesting first post.

CrufflerJJ, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Feb 25, 2010

I'm sure it's not a pleasant experience, but I doubt they did it just for kicks. It probably saved her life.
This is an interesting first post.

I also wondered about this as the subject of a first post. A bit odd. The blog referenced in the post says "The last time they had to do this she didn't move her leg for over a month." I sort of wonder if this was cause & effect, or just an observation by the parent.

I spoke with one of the people who received an EZ-IO as part of the pre-launch testing of the device. He said that inserting the needle wasn't too painful (about like a regular IV). infusion of fluids under pressure, however, was the ouchy part. That's why a number of EMS protocols allow injection of a wee bit of lidocaine into the marrow space prior to running fluids.

I've seen videos showing the same reaction on patients with the Fast-1 IO device (a needle KRUNCHING into the sternum). All smiles (even during device placement) until the fluids started flowing.

The EZ-IO has to be gentler on the patient compared to the older style "grind it back & forth" Jamshidi or Cook bone marrow needles.

If I myself, or a family member needs rapid access, I'd gladly allow the use of an EZ-IO (or any other IO method, for that matter). As SpaceCoastRN said, "pain beats dead."

jonmedic101 · May 9, 2010

In Israel we use ultimatly the Bone Injection Gun for intraosseous. my expirience with the device saved a lot of life in the last 7 year (as long as i am a qualified paramedic). what special about the B.I.G. is that the responsibility of the penetration itself is of the device and not the caregiver. the care giver should only place over the right penetration site and penetration is fast (0.02 seconds) and no more painful than an IV.

using manual or powered devices can sometime cause wider penetration hole and extravasation, and also, batteries can run low.

we will definatly continue to use it, and as i did a research about intraosseous devices when i was a student, there is no such painful report such as this about the B.I.G.