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Updated: Apr 11, 2026

Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma FAST Exam: Image Acquisition
Published on: September 22, 2023
From FAST to E-FAST: an overview of the evolution of ultrasound-based traumatic injury assessment
J Montoya1, S P Stawicki2,3, D C Evans4
1St Luke's Regional Level I Resource Trauma Center, Bethlehem, PA, USA.
Abstract:
Ultrasound is a ubiquitous and versatile diagnostic tool. In the setting of acute injury, ultrasound enhances the basic trauma evaluation, influences bedside decision-making, and helps determine whether or not an unstable patient requires emergent procedural intervention. Consequently, continued education of surgeons and other acute care practitioners in performing focused emergency ultrasound is of great importance. This article provides a synopsis of focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) and the extended FAST (E-FAST) that incorporates basic thoracic injury assessment. The authors also review key pitfalls, limitations, controversies, and advances related to FAST, E-FAST, and ultrasound education.
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