Comparison of two needle types for intraosseus access in an animal model.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to investigate the success rate, time for insertion and perceived difficulty in gaining intraosseus access in a porcine-derived animal model. The model was selected to have bone characteristics similar to human adult bone. Prehospital care personnel used two varieties of commercially available intraosseus needles, Cook Paediatric Intraosseus Insertion Needles and Cook Osteo-site needles.


METHODS
Sixteen ambulance paramedic trainees were trained to use both of two intraosseus needle types. They were timed from start of insertion attempt to successful insertion and asked to score perceived difficulty of intraosseus needle insertion using a modified Likert scale.


RESULTS
Sixteen of 16 (100%) of the insertions with the Cook Osteo-site needle were successful. Eleven of 16 (69%) insertions with the Cook Paediatric Intraosseus Insertion needle were successful. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.033). The Cook Osteo-site needle was perceived to be significantly easier to use than the Cook Paediatric Intraosseus Insertion needle (P = 0.0085) and there was a non-significant trend to shorter insertion times for the Cook Osteo-site needle.


CONCLUSIONS
Use of intraosseus needles to gain access in an animal model is possible. The use of the Cook Osteo-site needle is associated with excellent success rates for insertion and appears easier to use than the Cook Paediatric Intraosseus Insertion needle. Further work to evaluate the use of the intraosseus access device in the prehospital care situation is required.
Boyd
Russell J
RJ
Department of Emergency Medicine, Lyell McEwin Health Services, Haydown Road, Elizabethvale, SA 5112, Australia. Russell.Boyd@nwahs.sa.gov.au
Schutz
Jackie
J
Stuart
Peter
P
D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones; D023421:Models, Animal; D009339:Needles; D013552:Swine