Evaluation of Focused Abdominal Sonography for Trauma (FAST) in Blunt Abdominal Trauma (BAT)

Dr. Jaimin shah; Dr. Jainam shah; Dr. Jatin modi; Dr. Neelay jain

Volume : IV, Issue : VII, July - 2015

Evaluation of Focused Abdominal Sonography for Trauma (FAST) in Blunt Abdominal Trauma (BAT)

Dr. Jaimin Shah, Dr. Jainam Shah, Dr. Jatin Modi, Dr. Neelay Jain

Abstract :

BACKGROUND: Focused Abdominal Sonography for Trauma (FAST) is widely applied in the initial management of Blunt Abdominal Trauma (BAT) patients, Being non invasive, repeatable and without risk of irradiation, make it attractive tool in evaluation of trauma patients. OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of FAST sensitivity and specificity in detection of hemoperitoneum in blunt abdominal trauma victims. METHODS: A Prospective randomized study was conducted in Smt SCL General Hospital on 100 patients who presented with BAT and underwent FAST scan. The presence of intra-peritoneal free fluid was interpreted as positive. RESULTS: A hundred (100) patients included in the study, the sensitivity of FAST was 87 % and specificity was 97 % in blunt abdominal trauma. CONCLUSION: FAST is highly sensitive and specific in detection of hemoperitoneum after blunt abdominal trauma. Its high specificity make it suitable as "rule in" test in blunt abdominal injury. In unstable patients FAST may help in triaging and identifying those requiring laparotomy. Negative FAST scans do not exclude abdominal injury.