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Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) Exam: Image Acquisition
Published on: September 22, 2023
Focused assessment with sonography for trauma: methods, accuracy, and indications.
1Department of General and Vascular Surgery, Gundersen Lutheran Health System, 1900 South Avenue C05-001, La Crosse, WI 54601, USA. nypatel@gundluth.org
The Surgical Clinics of North America
|December 28, 2010
Summary
Focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) aids in identifying internal bleeding in trauma patients. This review covers its clinical use and future potential in emergency medicine.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medicine
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Trauma Surgery
Background:
- Focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) is a critical tool for evaluating trauma patients.
- Its application has seen substantial growth over the last 20 years.
- FAST enables the detection of free fluid in the abdomen and pericardium.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current clinical applications of FAST in trauma management.
- To explore the future directions and advancements in FAST techniques.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on FAST in trauma care.
- Analysis of clinical outcomes and trends associated with FAST utilization.
Main Results:
- FAST is a widely adopted and valuable diagnostic method.
- Significant increase in FAST usage over the past two decades.
- Demonstrated efficacy in detecting intra-abdominal and pericardial fluid.
Conclusions:
- FAST remains an essential component of trauma assessment.
- Continued research and development will likely enhance its role in patient management.
- The review highlights the established clinical utility and promising future of FAST.
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