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.