critical care medicine
How To Do E FAST Examination
Introduction
E-FAST (Extended Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma) is a bedside ultrasonographic protocol designed to detect peritoneal fluid, pericardial fluid, pneumothorax, and/or hemothorax in a trauma patient. The FAST (Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma) examination looks for the presence of fluid—presumed to be blood in the appropriate clinical setting—visualizing 10 structures or spaces in 4 areas: Pericardial Perihepatic Perisplenic Pelvic The E-FAST (Extended-FAST) additionally surveys the anterior and lateral pleural spaces (thoracic view) to evaluate for a Pneumothorax or E-FAST has high sensitivity and specificity (especially in patients with hypotension). It can be done quickly, noninvasively, and without radiation exposure, and may be repeated. Due to these benefits, ultrasonography has essentially replaced How To Do Diagnostic Peritoneal Lavage (DPL) (DPL) in evaluation of trauma patients. In a patient who is hemodynamically unstable, a positive E-FAST may indicate the need for immediate intervention (eg, How To Do Tube and Catheter Thoracostomy , pericardial window, diagnostic laparotomy). In a patient who is hemodynamically stable, the E-FAST can direct further diagnostic testing. Although E-FAST was designed to expedite care in injured patients, the components have proven to be useful as a point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) for patients who are hypotensive but not injured to identify free fluid as a result of other causes (eg, ruptured Ectopic Pregnancy , ruptured 