Application of Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma in the Intensive Care Unit

Molly E W Thiessen; Matthew Riscinti

doi:10.1016/j.ccm.2022.05.004

Application of Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma in the Intensive Care Unit

Clin Chest Med. 2022 Sep;43(3):385-392. doi: 10.1016/j.ccm.2022.05.004.

Authors

Molly E W Thiessen¹, Matthew Riscinti²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Emergency Medicine, Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, CO, USA; Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA. Electronic address: Molly.Thiessen@dhha.org.
² Department of Emergency Medicine, Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, CO, USA; Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA. Electronic address: https://twitter.com/thepocusatlas.

PMID: 36116808
DOI: 10.1016/j.ccm.2022.05.004

Abstract

The Extended-Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (E-FAST) allows clinicians to rapidly diagnose traumatic thoracoabdominal injuries at the bedside without ionizing radiation. It has high specificity and is extremely useful as an initial test to rule in dangerous diagnoses such as hemoperitoneum, pericardial effusion, hemothorax, and pneumothorax. Its moderate sensitivity means that it should not be used alone as a tool to rule out dangerous thoracoabdominal injuries. In patients with a concerning mechanism or presentation, additional imaging should be obtained despite a negative FAST examination.

Keywords: Critical care; E-FAST; Emergency medicine; FAST; Focused abdominal sonography for trauma; Point-of-care ultrasound; Trauma; Ultrasound.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma*
Humans
Intensive Care Units
Pneumothorax* / diagnostic imaging
Ultrasonography