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Emergency Ultrasound in Trauma. Fahad Khan, MD St. Luke’s/Roosevelt Hospital Center Columbia University, New York City April 24, 2009. E -FAST. Focused Assessment with Sonograghy for Trauma Cardiac RUQ LUQ Pelvis Extended Lung bases for pleural fluid
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Emergency Ultrasound in Trauma Fahad Khan, MD St. Luke’s/Roosevelt Hospital Center Columbia University, New York City April 24, 2009
E-FAST • Focused Assessment with Sonograghy for Trauma • Cardiac • RUQ • LUQ • Pelvis • Extended • Lung bases for pleural fluid • Anterior lung apices for pneumothorax
Indications • Blunt thoraco-abdominal trauma • Unexplained hypotension • Trauma in pregnancy
Key Questions • Is there FREE FLUID present? • In the pericardial space • In the peritoneal cavity • In the pleural space • Is there a PNEUMOTHORAX?
Advantages • Rapid • Reproducible • Non-invasive • Portable • No radiation or contrast
Disadvantages • Difficult to distinguish • Type of fluid • Solid organ injury • Cannot evaluate retroperitoneum • Difficult in the obese patient
Blunt Thoraco-abdominal Trauma Hemodynamically Stable Hemodynamically Unstable Peritoneal Signs Ultrasound Free Fluid/Organ Injury Laparotomy Ultrasound Free Fluid/Organ Injury Laparotomy Repeat U/S CT Scan Laparotomy CT Scan Algorithm
Technique • Low frequency probe • 2.5 – 5.0 MHz • Tissue penetration
Hepato-renal Recess • Trendelenburg position • Anterior axillary line
Right Lung Base • Move probe cephalad
Left Lung Base • Move probe cephalad
Lung Scanning for Pneumothorax “Bat” Sign Comet tails
Pitfalls • Scan all quadrants • Repeating scans • Inferior poles • Solid organ injuries • Fat • Retroperitoneum
After a short training program, physicians can use FAST in early assessment of trauma patients with sufficient specificity to expedite decision making.
Increased physician ultrasound experience is associated with increased physician accuracy in FAST examinations. • This can directly lead to a reduction in the use of CT scans, and ultimately, medical costs.