Read firstPractice-changingEvidence update
Potential Risks With the SPEAR®, a New Device Marketed for Out-of-Hospital Needle Decompression of the Chest
Annals of Emergency Medicine1 Sept 2026Trauma
Clinical takeaway
Services using or considering this device should urgently review the full warning, manufacturer instructions, anatomical risks, governance and training before deployment.
EDCritix summary
This safety letter warns clinicians and EMS leaders about potential complications from the SPEAR, a 9.5 cm 10-gauge catheter-over-needle device marketed for blind out-of-hospital chest decompression.