Use of Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) by Intensive Care Paramedics to Achieve Peripheral Intravenous Access in Patients Predicted to Be Difficult: An Out-of-hospital Pilot Study

Introduction: Intravenous cannulation is a common procedure for paramedics. Difficulty is often encountered and may result in escalation of care to an intensive care paramedic (ICP). Ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous access (USGPIVA) is used in-hospital as an alternative approach. Historically limited to physicians, it is increasingly embraced by non-physicians, with point of care ultrasound (POCUS) devices more affordable, portable, and suited to the out of hospital environment.

Objective: To explore the utility of ICP-performed USGPIVA for patients who are predicted to be difficult according to a difficult intravenous access scoring tool.

Methods: This was a prospective observational pilot study of ICPs who used the adult difficult intravenous access (A-DIVA) scale to predict difficulty and perform USGPIVA using a contemporary POCUS device.

Results: For the 32 patients enroled, the overall success rate was 50% of which 87% were successful on the first attempt. Mean A-DIVA score was 4.1/5, and paradoxically, success improved with A-DIVA-predicted difficulty.

Conclusion: ICPs can perform USGPIVA with moderate success. The A-DIVA score could be useful for paramedics to predict difficult cannulation. Future research should focus on increasing exposure, training time and enhancing feedback to paramedics performing USGPIVA.