Effects of intraosseous and intravenous administration of Hextend® on time of administration and hemodynamics in a Swine model.

INTRODUCTION The military recommends that a 500 mL bolus of Hextend® be administered via an intravenous (IV) 18-gauge needle or via an intraosseous (IO) needle for patients in hypovolemic shock. PURPOSES The purposes of this study were to compare the time of administration of Hextend and the hemodynamics of IV and IO routes in a Class II hemorrhage swine model. METHODS This was an experimental study using 27 swine. After 30% of their blood volume was exsanguinated, 500 mL of Hextend was administered IV or IO, but not to the control group. Hemodynamic data were collected every 2 minutes until administration was complete. RESULTS Time for administration was not significant (p=.78). No significant differences existed between the IO and IV groups relative to hemodynamics (p>.05), but both were significantly different than the control group (p<.05). CONCLUSIONS The IO route is an effective method of administering Hextend.