Source
Emergency Department, Barnsley Hospital, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK. jane.brenchley@bhnft.nhs.uk
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
To evaluate the introduction of a focussed assessment with sonography in trauma (FAST) scan into the early assessment of trauma patients in the UK.
METHODS:
The setting was an inner city teaching hospital emergency department (annual attendance 100,000). All patients aged 16 or over admitted to the resuscitation room after blunt trauma were included in a prospective observational study. Patients had a FAST scan performed at the end of the primary survey. Results were compared to results of other investigations, laparotomy, postmortem examination, or observation.
RESULTS:
153 patients were entered into the study. The sensitivity of the FAST scan was 78% and specificity was 99%.
CONCLUSION:
FAST is a highly specific "rule in" technique and is useful in the initial assessment of trauma patients. Emergency physicians can perform FAST after a brief training period.