FAST_calculator v.1
Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) predicts presence of pericardial or intra-abdominal injury after penetrating or blunt trauma.
To predict presence of pericardial or intra-abdominal injury after penetrating or blunt trauma.
FAST should be used liberally in the evaluation of trauma patients. Especially useful in patients with penetrating thoracic trauma and in unstable patients after blunt abdominal trauma. Using bedside ultrasound, assess for fluid in each of the following areas: Pericardial fluid Right upper quadrant (Morison’s pouch) fluid Left upper quadrant (splenorenal recess) fluid Suprapubic fluid Fluid present? Select: Absent/ Present/ Equivocal. Interpretation: - ONE of the areas has Present fluid: Present FAST - NON of the areas has Present fluid AND one or more area has Equivocal: Equivocal FAST - ALL areas has Absent fluid: Absent FAST
Do not use FAST results alone to dictate the decision to operate. Negative FAST result does NOT exclude injury.
1. Rozycki GS, Ochsner MG, Jaffin JH, Champion HR. Prospective evaluation of surgeons' use of ultrasound in the evaluation of trauma patients. J Trauma. 1993 Apr;34(4):516-26.
OBSERVATION.fast.v0
