The American journal of emergency medicine
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Intravenous (IV) infusions were ordered in nearly 95% of paramedic runs called into a busy base station hospital. Most of the patients received IV lines for either prophylactic access or administration of single or multiple bolus medications. In this group of patients, the application of a heparin lock injection port directly to the IV catheter, followed by the injection of 10 units of heparin, was evaluated. ⋯ If all 102 patients had received conventional IV drip infusions, the total patient equipment charges would have been $4,610.40. The actual charges for all patients in this series, either with heparin locks or IV infusion sets, was $1,846.14--a 60% savings. The results of the study indicate that the heparin lock is a safe, convenient, and cost-effective method for maintaining IV access in the prehospital environment.