title: Consecutive field trials using two different intraosseous devices.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Establishing traditional intravenous (IV) access in adult trauma and medical patients can be difficult. We evaluated provider performance for obtaining intraosseous access with two FDA-approved intraosseous devices (F.A.S.T.1 and EZ-IO) in two sequential field trials.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred twenty-four providers consented to participate in the first field trial evaluating the use of the F.A.S.T.1 system. Three hundred eighty-nine providers consented to participate in the second field trial, evaluating the use of the EZ-IO. Following each insertion attempt, a telephone data collection process with a member of the research team was completed. Insertion success rate and measures of provider comfort and satisfaction with each device were collected and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred seventy-eight insertions (89 F.A.S.T.1; 89 EZ-IO) were completed between February 2000 and December 2005. Sixty-four of the 89 insertions of the F.A.S.T.1 were successful, and 78 of the 89 insertions of the EZ-IO were successful (72% vs. 87%; chi2 = 6.8; p = 0.009). Providers using the F.A.S.T.1 attempted more IV insertions prior to using the IO device than the providers using the EZ-IO (2.6 vs. 2.0, p = 0.005). There were no differences in provider comfort or provider assessed device performance between the two devices (p = 0.52; p = 0.13, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our comparison of two field trials of prehospital provider use of the F.A.S.T.1 and EZ-IO systems, more successful insertions with the EZ-IO were achieved than with the F.A.S.T.1 device. Limitations of our comparison include nonrandomization, the sequential field trial design, the potential for a learning effect, and self-reporting of data points by providers. A prospective, randomized evaluation of these devices is warranted to draw definitive conclusions about provider insertion success rate with these devices.
authors: Regions Hospital Emergency Medical Services, Regions Hospital, St. Paul, MN 55101, USA.
authors: Ralph J
authors: RJ
authors: Frascone
authors: Joe P
authors: JP
authors: Jensen
authors: Kory
authors: K
authors: Kaye
authors: Joshua G
authors: JG
authors: Salzman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017148:Infusions, Intraosseous / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014922:Wisconsin