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The accuracy of focused assessment with sonography in trauma (FAST) in blunt trauma patients: Experience of an Australian major trauma service
- Source :
-
Injury . Jan2007, Vol. 38 Issue 1, p71-75. 5p. - Publication Year :
- 2007
-
Abstract
- <bold>Unlabelled: </bold>Focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) is a method for detecting haemoperitoneum in trauma patients on initial assessment in the Emergency Department. The aim of this paper is to present an Australian trauma centre's experience with FAST as a tool to screen for intraabdominal free fluid in patient's sustaining blunt truncal trauma. <bold>Method: </bold>Over a 63-month period, FAST scans were prospectively studied and compared with findings from a gold-standard investigation, either computed tomography (CT) or laparotomy. <bold>Results: </bold>463 FAST results were collected prospectively from 463 patients. 53 scans were excluded due to lack of a corresponding confirmatory gold-standard test. Overall sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for FAST in detecting free fluid were 78%, 97%, 91%, 93%, respectively. Analysis of the credentialed operators demonstrated an improvement in accuracy (sensitivity 80%, specificity 100%, positive predictive value 100%, negative predictive value 94%). These findings are comparable with documented international experience. <bold>Conclusion: </bold>The study demonstrates that the use of non-radiologist performed FAST in the detection of free fluid is safe and accurate within an Australian Trauma Centre. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *ULTRASONIC imaging
*BLUNT trauma
*TRAUMA centers
*CLINICAL competence
*COMPARATIVE studies
*DIAGNOSTIC errors
*DIGESTIVE system diseases
*HEMORRHAGE
*HOSPITAL emergency services
*HOSPITAL medical staff
*LONGITUDINAL method
*RESEARCH methodology
*MEDICAL cooperation
*RESEARCH
*CONTINUING medical education
*EVALUATION research
*EDUCATION
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00201383
- Volume :
- 38
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Injury
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 23553945
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.injury.2006.03.004