Annals of Emergency Medicine
Volume 18, Issue 3 , Pages 244-246, March 1989

Prehospital intravenous line placement: A prospective study

    MD
  • Stephen E Jones

      Affiliations

    • Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Southern California, USA
    • Los Angeles County/University of Southern California Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress for reprints: Stephen E Jones, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, LAC/USC Medical Center, 1200 North State Street, Los Angeles, California 90033.
    • , MD
  • Timothy P Nesper

      Affiliations

    • Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Southern California, USA
    • Los Angeles County/University of Southern California Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • , MD
  • Eric Alcouloumre

      Affiliations

    • Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Southern California, USA
    • Los Angeles County/University of Southern California Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA

Received 22 February 1988; received in revised form 6 June 1988; accepted 12 August 1988.

We prospectively measured the on-scene time, transport time, and IV line starting time for 97 patients receiving paramedic care in an urban region during an 18-month period. The overall success rate for IV line placement was 91%, and the average successful IV line starting time was 2.5 minutes. En route IV line attempts had similar success rates and starting times. The on-scene IV line starting times were shorter than the transport times in 86% of patients. We conclude that definitive IV line medical therapy, when available, can be delivered effectively by paramedics at the scene. We also conclude that en route IV line placement is feasible in trauma victims.

intravenous line, prehospital

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Annals of Emergency Medicine
Volume 18, Issue 3 , Pages 244-246, March 1989