Peripheral Intravenous Access Rates Obtained by Emergency Medical Services in Pediatric Patients: A Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND Peripheral intravenous (IV) access is a fundamental pre-hospital procedure performed by emergency medical services (EMS) personnel and remains the primary route for drug administration. Pediatric IV cannulation is often challenging in out-of-hospital settings. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of peripheral intravenous access being established in pre-hospital settings by EMS staff in pediatric patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS This retrospective study analyzed 6331 records of emergency medical services (EMS) dispatches involving patients under 18 years of age between 2020 and 2022. The study protocol included an assessment of cannulation rate depending on the patient's age, case characteristics, ICD 10 (International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision) diagnosis and whether the patient required transport to a hospital. RESULTS Peripheral intravenous access was established in 1073 of 6331 pediatric patients (16.94%). The cannulation rate increased significantly with age, from 1.03% in infants (<1 year) to 75.12% in adolescents (12-18 years) (p<0.001). Logistic regression analysis identified age, trauma (OR=1.96), poisoning (OR=3.88), and transfer by Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) (OR=5.86) as predictors of IV cannulation (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS The overall rate of peripheral intravenous access establishment in pediatric patients in pre-hospital settings is relatively low, with the lowest rates observed in children under 1 year of age. Age, trauma, poisoning, and referral to HEMS teams significantly increased the likelihood of cannulation. It is essential to develop evidence-based algorithms and targeted training to support EMS personnel in managing vascular access in critically ill children.