FAST scan
Focussed Assessment Sonography in Trauma
Most useful in unstable patients, when it constitutes an indication for intervention
Not actually really useful or necessary in stable patients
- Subxiphoid window
- Left subcostal area
- Right subcostal area (Morison's pouch)
- Suprapubic area
- Needs about 200mL intra-abdominal fluid to be detected
False positives:
[edit | edit source]- Fluid-filled bowel adjacent to liver, spleen or kidney
- Pre-existing ascites
- Epicardial fat
- Physiological fluid
- Seminal vesicles