Comparison of two intraosseous infusion techniques in an EMT training program

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Medical Device Technology

Background:

• Intraosseous (IO) access is a critical procedure for emergency vascular access.
• Traditional IO line placement methods can be time-consuming and require significant training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy and ease of use of the bone injection gun (BIG) device versus the traditional Jamshidi method for IO line placement.
• To evaluate the impact of prior experience on IO line insertion times and perceived ease of use.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, cross-over study design was employed.
• Participants (EMT-P students and paramedics) performed IO line placement on a pediatric leg mannequin using both the BIG device and the traditional method.
• Time to placement and ease-of-use ratings were recorded for each technique.

Main Results:

• The BIG device demonstrated a statistically significant faster time to IO line placement (11.93 sec) compared to the traditional method (16.91 sec).
• No significant difference was found in the ease-of-use ratings between the two methods.
• Students using the BIG device achieved faster placement times than practicing paramedics using the same device.

Conclusions:

• The BIG device is a viable alternative for IO line placement in educational settings, potentially improving efficiency.
• Both the BIG device and traditional methods are perceived similarly in terms of ease of use by trainees and experienced paramedics.
• Further research may explore the BIG device's effectiveness in real-world clinical scenarios.