UTSW/BioTel EMS Alerts

EMS ALERT 15-005 End of “ALPS” Clinical Trial  PDF Here

Purpose:

To notify UTSW/BioTel EMS Providers in participating ROC Agencies that, effective October 24, 2015, the ALPS clinical trial has ended.

Background:

  1. Effective immediately, the ALPS Trial has ended.
  2. This clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of lidocaine versus amiodarone versus plain saline solution for the treatment of recurrent or persistent Ventricular Fibrillation (VF) or pulseless Ventricular Tachycardia (pVT).
  3. The results of the study will be evaluated and may be used in the future to modify UTSW/BioTel EMS Treatment Guidelines, American Heart Association Guidelines and other standards of care for cardiac arrest.

Critical Points, Effective Immediately:

  1. All ALPS Kits must be removed from all UTSW/BioTel EMS/Fire apparatus immediately.
  2. The ALPS Kits must NOT be discarded or destroyed – they must be retained for collection and inventory control by ROC Staff over the next several days
  3. Participating “ROC” EMS agencies shall remove from their printed and electronic EMS Treatment Guidelines and other materials all “ROC” versions of EMS Treatment Guidelines for Ventricular Fibrillation and pulseless Ventricular Tachycardia that were distributed to these agencies in 2014.
  4. All patients with recurrent or persistent VF or pVT shall be treated with the standard UTSW/BioTel EMS Treatment Guidelines, pages 66 through 68 (VF/pVT Guidelines), including defibrillation, epinephrine, and either open-label amiodarone or open-label lidocaine, as specified.

SUMMARY:

  1. The ALPS Trial has ended – ALPS Kits must be retained for collection by ROC Staff
  2. Patients in recurrent or persistent Ventricular Fibrillation or pulseless Ventricular Tachycardia shall be treated using the standard UTSW/BioTel EMS Treatment Guidelines.

Resources (accessed October 24, 2015):

  1. UTSW/BioTel EMS Guidelines for Therapy, especially pages 66-68 (VF/pVT Guidelines)

The ROC Team thanks all participants for their hard work and dedication

UTSW/BioTel EMS Providers may contact BioTel or the EMS Medical Direction Team at any time with questions or concerns about this Alert