ABSTRACT
Vascular access is a key intervention provided to victims of sudden illness or injury cared for by prehospital emergency medical service (EMS) advanced providers. Fluid resuscitation and most emergent pharmacologic therapies require adequate venous access. A number of controversies surround intravenous (IV) therapy established in the field. Intravenous access can potentially delay transportation to definitive care. There is a risk to prehospital care providers carrying out the procedure and a risk of subsequent IV site infections. In addition, there are alternatives to simple peripheral IV catheters such as intraosseous infusion and central venous access.
