Trauma in a Flash: FAST Exam

In this episode of Trauma in a Flash, Dr. Sucher shows the use of the FAST exam for rapid assessment of patients with blunt or penetrating traumatic injuries. FAST stands for Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma. There are various techniques for this tool. The RUQ is probed with a sonic probe facing anteriorly so that one can dynamically view the liver, diaphragm, and right kidney. By viewing the LUQ with the same device, one can view the spleen, diaphragm, and left kidney. The pelvic space is viewed just above the pubis, and the area posterior to the bladder can be viewed. The sub-xiphoid region can be used to observe the liver, the border of the heart, and the pericardium. Another window is the left parasternal view at or below the level of the nipple. This takes hundreds of evaluations to become proficient, so practice makes perfect!