Intraosseous adenosine. As effective as peripheral or central venous administration?

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine if intraosseous administration of adenosine is effective and, if so, to establish therapeutic dosage criteria for the intraosseous route compared with peripheral or central intraosseous route compared with peripheral or central venous routes.

RESEARCH DESIGN

Randomized, unblinded, cross-over, within-animal control study.

SETTING

University hospital in Ohio.

SUBJECTS

Thirty newly weaned piglets.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

Consecutive sample.

INTERVENTIONS

Thirty newly weaned pigs were transesophageally (n = 26) or transvenously (n = 4) paced at a cycle length that was 10% longer than the Wenckebach threshold. The minimum effective dose of adenosine necessary to induce atrioventricular block during pacing was recorded for peripheral venous, central venous, and intraosseous routes.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS

The baseline resting heart rate and Wenckebach thresholds were not statistically different between subjects or between different routes of administration. The intraosseous route required a minimum effective dose of 127 micrograms/kg. Using a log transformation, the difference between central venous and peripheral venous doses was found to be statistically significant. The intraosseous dose was not statistically different from the central venous or peripheral venous doses.

CONCLUSION

The intraosseous route is an effective way of administering adenosine. The peripheral venous dose required to achieve atrioventricular block is higher than the central venous dose and the intraosseous dose is intermediary to the central venous and peripheral venous doses.