Intraosseous infusion of dobutamine and isoproterenol
J. F. Bilello, K. C. O'Hair, W. C. Kirby and J. W. Moore
Department of Pediatrics, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC 20307-5001.
Intraosseous infusion has been advocated as an emergency route in sick
infants and children when intravenous access is not readily obtainable.
Dobutamine hydrochloride and isoproterenol hydrochloride are useful
emergency drugs that have not been studied when administered into the bone
marrow. In a swine model, we compared the physiologic responses (heart
rate, arterial pressure, and cardiac output) of dobutamine and
isoproterenol infusions delivered intravenously and intraosseously during
20-minute intervals. We observed statistically significant effects of both
dobutamine and isoproterenol delivered by the intraosseous route. In
addition, the effects resulting from intraosseous infusion were
statistically similar to those resulting from intravenous administration of
these drugs. We conclude that the intraosseous infusion of dobutamine and
isoproterenol is an effective and useful method for emergency
administration of these medications.
