Prehospital intraosseus access with the bone injection gun by a helicopter-transported emergency medical team.
BACKGROUND
To evaluate the use of the bone injection gun to obtain vascular access in the prehospital setting by an Helicopter-Transported Emergency Medical Team.


METHODS
Prospective descriptive study to assess the frequency and success rate of the use of the bone injection gun in prehospital care by a Helicopter-Transported Emergency Medical Team.


RESULTS
In 40 of 780 (5.1%) patients, an attempt was made to obtain intraosseous access with the bone injection gun. Intraosseous access was attempted more often in children than in adults (p < 0.01). The success rate was 71% (10 out of 14) in children <16 years and 73% (19 out of 26) in adults (p = 1.0). There were no complications to the health care providers involved and no unwanted sequels to the patients involved.


CONCLUSIONS
The bone injection gun is an effective and safe device for the resuscitation of patients in a prehospital setting. It seems to be equivalent in success rate as intraosseous needles in children, but it seems to be more successful in adults.
Gerritse
Bastiaan M
BM
Department of Anesthesiology, Amphia Hospital, Breda, The Netherlands. bgerritse@amphia.nl
Scheffer
Gert Jan
GJ
Draaisma
Jos M Th
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017732:Air Ambulances; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005440:Fluid Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017148:Infusions, Intraosseous / Q000295:instrumentation*