Timing is crucial when caring for an injured patient, and the evaluation requires a systematic, rapid, and thorough assessment to identify and treat immediate life-threatening injuries. An integral component of this assessment is the Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) and the extended FAST (eFAST). These assessments allow for a rapid, noninvasive, portable, accurate, repeatable, and inexpensive means of diagnosing internal injury to the abdomen, chest, and pelvis. Understanding the basic principles of ultrasonography, having a thorough familiarity with the equipment, and being knowledgeable in anatomy allow the bedside practitioner to use this tool to rapidly assess injured patients. This article reviews the basic tenets that underpin the FAST and eFAST evaluations. Practical interventions and tips are provided to assist novice operators—all with the goal of decreasing the learning curve.
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Summer 2023
Symposium: Point-of-Care Ultrasonography in Critical Care: Part 1|
June 15 2023
Focused and Extended Focused Assessment With Sonography for Trauma
Cynthia Blank-Reid, MSN, RN, TCRN, CEN;
Cynthia Blank-Reid, MSN, RN, TCRN, CEN
Cynthia Blank-Reid is Trauma Clinical Nurse Specialist, Temple University Hospital, Main Campus, 3401 N Broad St, Rock Pavilion–1st Floor Nsg Office, Philadelphia, PA 19140 ([email protected]).
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Denise M. Zappile, MSN, CRNP;
Denise M. Zappile, MSN, CRNP
Denise M. Zappile is Trauma Nurse Practitioner, Temple University Hospital, Main Campus, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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Thomas A. Santora, MD, MBA
Thomas A. Santora, MD, MBA
Thomas A. Santora is Trauma and Surgical Critical Care Attending, Temple University Hospital, Main Campus, and Professor of Surgery and Interim Chair of the Department of Surgery, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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AACN Adv Crit Care (2023) 34 (2): 129–138.
Citation
Cynthia Blank-Reid, Denise M. Zappile, Thomas A. Santora; Focused and Extended Focused Assessment With Sonography for Trauma. AACN Adv Crit Care 15 June 2023; 34 (2): 129–138. doi: https://doi.org/10.4037/aacnacc2023597
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