The main limitation of the FAST examination is that
the operator must be knowledgeable in its clinical use and be aware that it does not exclude all injuries
. Limitations to the pericardial assessment for hemopericardium include pericardial fat pads, cysts, and preexisting pericardial fluid.
What is a FAST exam?
The focused assessment with sonography for trauma, or FAST, is a
limited bedside ultrasound examination
that seeks to quickly detect free intraabdominal fluid or cardiac complications. The extended FAST, or E-FAST, expands the examination to assess for pneumothorax.
What does a FAST exam look for?
The FAST exam
evaluates the pericardium and three potential spaces within the peritoneal cavity for pathologic fluid
. The right upper quadrant (RUQ) visualizes the hepatorenal recess, also known as Morrison's pouch, the right paracolic gutter, the hepato-diaphragmatic area, and the caudal edge of the left liver lobe.
What is a normal FAST exam?
FAST exam follows ABCDE to assess “C” looking for free fluid. Sensitivity of 42% and specificity of ≥98% As little as
100 mL
of free fluid can be seen, though >500 mL is needed for the common user. If blunt trauma start with RUQ view first. In penetrating start with cardiac views first to rule out tamponade.
What is a major benefit of FAST or Efast?
The benefits of the FAST examination include the following:
Decreases the time to diagnosis for acute abdominal injury in BAT
.
Helps accurately diagnose hemoperitoneum
.
Helps assess the degree of hemoperitoneum in BAT
.
How much fluid do you need to FAST to be positive?
The volume of free fluid necessary to enable detection with FAST represents a limitation of FAST . Branney and colleagues determined that the mean minimum detectable free-fluid volume during FAST examination in 100 patients undergoing DPL was
619 mL
in the Morison pouch (24).
What probe do you use for fast exam?
The FAST exam most commonly uses
the subxiphoid (AKA subcostal) view
to assess the pericardial space. To obtain this view, place the transducer just inferior and to the patient's right of the xiphoid process. Yes, you read that correctly – to the right of the xiphoid process.
What is the name of the potential uterine space where free fluid is most likely to collect?
Between the uterus and the rectum is
the recto-uterine space
, also known as the posterior cul-de-sac. It is a potential space prone to fluid collection.
Where is Morrison's pouch?
Morison's pouch is
an area between your liver and your right kidney
. It's also called the hepatorenal recess or right subhepatic space. Morison's pouch is a potential space that can open up when fluid or blood enters the area. When these aren't present, there's no space between your liver and right kidney.
What is the key to a high performance trauma team?
Four attributes were identified to be of greatest value for trauma team members:
engagement, efficiency, experience and collaboration
.
What is a fast us?
The Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program is
a commercial clearance program for known low-risk shipments entering the United States
from Canada and Mexico.
How many liters of blood can the abdominal cavity hide when internal bleeding occurs?
In selected cases, careful observation may be permissible. The abdominal cavity is highly distensible and may easily hold
greater than five liters
of blood, or more than the entire circulating blood volume for an average-sized individual.
What does abdominal trauma mean?
Abdominal trauma is
an injury to the abdomen
. Signs and symptoms include abdominal pain, tenderness, rigidity, and bruising of the external abdomen. Complications may include blood loss and infection.
What does FAST stand for in surgery?
Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma
(FAST) scan is a point-of-care ultrasound examination performed at the time of presentation of a trauma patient.
What is e fast in trauma?
E-FAST (
Extended Focused Assessment with Sonography in
Trauma) is a bedside ultrasonographic protocol designed to detect peritoneal fluid, pericardial fluid, pneumothorax, and/or hemothorax in a trauma patient.
