What is a FAST exam in trauma?
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 primary indications for performing a FAST are blunt or penetrating trauma, trauma in pregnancy, or hypotension of unclear etiology.
When do you FAST in trauma?
Indications for FAST include evaluation of the torso for free fluid suggesting injury to the peritoneal, pericardial, and pleural cavities, particularly in cases of trauma. FAST examination may be used to evaluate the lungs for pneumothorax.
What is a FAST scan test?
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 included in a FAST scan?
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.
When do you do a FAST exam?
Current indications for performing a FAST examination include blunt and penetrating cardiac and chest trauma, trauma in pregnancy, pediatric trauma, undifferentiated hypotension, and even evaluation of medical (non-trauma) patients for ascites.
How is FAST scan done?
Focused assessment with sonography in trauma (commonly abbreviated as FAST) is a rapid bedside ultrasound examination performed by surgeons, emergency physicians, and paramedics as a screening test for blood around the heart (pericardial effusion) or abdominal organs (hemoperitoneum) after trauma.
What is included in FAST scan?
What is FAST medical?
The acronym FAST (Facial drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulties and Time) has been used by the National Stroke Association, American Heart Association and others to educate the public on detecting symptoms of a stroke. FAST was first introduced in the United Kingdom in 1998.
When do you have a FAST scan?
What is a negative FAST exam?
FAST is useful in patients with blunt or penetrating traumatic injury. Enables trauma bay decision: Stable patient with traumatic mechanism of injury + negative FAST → observation. Stable patient with traumatic mechanism of injury + positive FAST → CT.
How long does a FAST scan take?
Experienced providers perform the FAST exam in less than 5 minutes [9], and its use decreases time to surgical intervention, patient length of stay, and rates of CT and DPL[1].
When is a focused assessment with sonography for trauma ( FAST ) scan?
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.
Which is the primary fast examination for trauma?
The primary FAST examination classically includes the subxiphoid window of the heart to denote pericardial fluid. Indications for FAST include evaluation of the torso for free fluid suggesting injury to the peritoneal, pericardial, and pleural cavities, particularly in cases of trauma.
What is the extended FAST protocol for trauma?
Recently, many institutions have introduced the Extended FAST (eFAST) protocol into their trauma algorithms. The eFAST examines each hemithorax for the presence of hemothoraces and pneumothoraces. Anatomy and Physiology
How is the eFAST used in trauma care?
In its current state, the EFAST is a point-of-care ultrasound protocol for critically ill trauma patients. With experience, healthcare providers can quickly and accurately identify pathology in the peritoneal, pericardial, and pleural spaces.