title: Success rates for initiation of intravenous therapy en route by prehospital care providers.
abstract: The optimal extent of prehospital care, including intravenous (IV) therapy for critically ill patients, remains unclear. The authors evaluated the success rate for IV cannulation in a moving ambulance by trained emergency medical technicians and paramedics in 641 adult medical- and trauma-related cases. At least one IV line was started in 80% of medical patients and 92% of trauma patients, regardless of blood pressure. In hypotensive patients, the success rates for at least one IV in medical and trauma patients were 80% and 95%, respectively. These data suggest that IV lines can be secured with a high degree of success en route to the hospital by trained personnel, and that prompt transport of unstable patients should not be delayed solely to obtain IV access.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Slovis
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Herr
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Londorf
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Little
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Guthmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000488:Allied Health Personnel; D000552:Ambulances; D004630:Emergencies; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000592:standards*; D004634:Emergency Medical Technicians; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008875:Middle Aged; D014187:Transportation of Patients; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy