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Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) Exam: Image Acquisition
Published on: September 22, 2023
Role of ultrasonography in blunt abdominal trauma: a prospective study
F M Abu-Zidan1, I Zayat, M Sheikh
1Department of Surgery, Mubarak Al-Kabeer Teaching Hospital, Kuwait.
Objective:
To evaluate the role of ultrasonography in screening for blunt abdominal trauma in a general hospital.
Design:
Prospective study.
Setting:
University hospital, Kuwait.
Subjects:
53 patients (44 male and nine female) with suspected blunt abdominal trauma or decreased consciousness were studied in the period between March 92 and April 93.
Interventions:
Real time ultrasonography of the abdomen during resuscitation.
Main Outcome Measures:
The sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography as an investigative tool and predictor of clinical outcome.
Results:
Ultrasonography was 85% sensitive, 100% specific, and 96% accurate. The positive predictive value was 100% and the negative predictive value was 95%. The sensitivity was less in the hands of the surgeon than the radiologist (67% compared with 90%).
Conclusion:
Ultrasonography is an accurate, safe method for screening patients with blunt abdominal trauma even in general hospitals.
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