Single v Dual-Operator Ultrasound Technique for Peripheral Vascular Access in the Emergency Department
Patients With Difficult Vascular Access.

About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Patients With Difficult Vascular Access.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Adult (18 years and older) patients predicted to require intravenous cannulas and identified at triage as having moderate or difficult access based on the following criteria:
Moderate: peripheral vein is visible or palpable but difficulty is expected based on patient characteristics both clinical and historical.
Difficult: No peripheral veins visible or palpable, or two failed attempts by traditional landmarking (LM).
Exclusion Criteria:
- Exclusion criteria will include patients who have already undergone successful pre-hospital IV placement, patients with an indwelling vascular device, patients who are critically ill (Canadian Triage Acuity Score I) or objection to study enrolment by the attending MD for any reason. If no suitable target vein can be identified with US the patient data will be collected and the patient will be excluded from the statistical analysis.
Sites / Locations
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Experimental
Single-Operator
Dual-Operator
For the 'Single Operator Ultrasound Guided IV placement' arm the RN operator will use the ultrasound probe to identify the target vein, and continue to hold and adjust the probe while placing the IV.
For the 'Dual Operator Ultrasound Guided IV placement' arm the RN operator will use the US to identify the target vein, at which time the study coordinator will hold the ultrasound probe in position. The RN operator will then place the IV.