Introduction

The use of focused ultrasonography has now become an extension of the physical examination of the trauma patient.

Performed in the trauma room by properly trained and credentialed staff, it allows the timely diagnosis of potentially life-threatening haemorrhage and is a decision-making tool to help determine the need for transfer to the operating room, CT scanner or angiography suite.

Trauma Ultrasonography

Introduction
FAST
-  Perihepatic
-  Perisplenic
-  Pelvis
-  Pericardium
Indications
How good is FAST?
Thoracic Ultrasound
References
 

Ultrasound was first utilised for the examination of trauma patients in the 1970s in Europe, where its qualities for being a noninvasive, rapid, safe, accurate and repeatable bedside assessment were first appreciated. It's uptake in North America and the United Kingdom did not occur until the 1990s. Since that time a considerable body of data has been produced to support its use in the assessment of the trauma patient.

Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) is a limited ultrasound examination directed solely at identifying the presence of free intraperitoneal or pericardial fluid. In the context of traumatic injury, free fluid is usually due to haemorrhage and contributes to the assessment of the circulation.

FAST
Alex Ng, trauma.org 6:12, December 2001