Focused assessment with sonography in trauma (FAST)may assist with diagnosis in difficult situations.Which group of scans is performed,and what do they identify?

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FAST is a portable,noninvasive scan that can be used to determine the presence of free fluid in the chest or abdomen.The typical FAST scan consists of chest,pelvic,and four abdominal scans.The chest scan examines right and left chest views and can determine the presence of pericardial fluid.The upper right abdominal scan evaluates the hepatorenal area,the first area that shows the presence of air.The left upper scan examines the splenorenal area.Spaces between the colon and abdominal wall (the left and right paracolic gutters)are also scanned.The pelvic scan assesses for free fluid near the bladder.

Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (FAST)may Assist with Diagnosis