Prehospital intravenous line placement: a prospective study.

We prospectively measured the on-scene time, transport time, and IV line starting time for 97 patients receiving paramedic care in an urban region during an 18-month period. The overall success rate for IV line placement was 91%, and the average successful IV line starting time was 2.5 minutes. En route IV line attempts had similar success rates and starting times. The on-scene IV line starting times were shorter than the transport times in 86% of patients. We conclude that definitive IV line medical therapy, when available, can be delivered effectively by paramedics at the scene. We also conclude that en route IV line placement is feasible in trauma victims.