Tayal VS, Beatty MA, Marx JA, Tomaszewski CA, Thomason MH. FAST (focused assessment with sonography in trauma) accurate for cardiac and intraperitoneal injury in penetrating anterior chest trauma.
JOURNAL OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE 2004;
23:467-472. [PMID:
15098863 DOI:
10.7863/jum.2004.23.4.467]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the FAST (focused assessment with sonography in trauma) examination for determining traumatic pericardial effusion and intraperitoneal fluid indicative of injury in patients with penetrating anterior chest trauma.
METHODS
An observational prospective study was conducted over a 30-month period at an urban level I trauma center. FAST was performed in the emergency department by emergency physicians and trauma surgeons. FAST results were recorded before review of patient outcome as determined by 1 or more of the following: thoracotomy, laparotomy, pericardial window, cardiologic echocardiography, diagnostic peritoneal lavage, computed tomography, and serial examinations.
RESULTS
FAST was undertaken in 32 patients with penetrating anterior chest trauma: 20 (65%) had stab wounds, and 12 (35%) had gunshot wounds. Sensitivity of FAST for cardiac injury (n = 8) in patients with pericardial effusion was 100% (95% confidence interval, 63.1%-100%); specificity was 100% (95% confidence interval, 85.8%-100%). The presence of pericardial effusion determined by FAST correlated with the need for thoracotomy in 7 (87.5%) of 8 patients (95% confidence interval, 47.3%-99.7%). One patient with a pericardial blood clot on cardiologic echocardiography was treated nonsurgically. FAST had 100% sensitivity for intraperitoneal injury (95% confidence interval, 63.1%-100%) in 8 patients with views indicating intraperitoneal fluid but without pericardial effusion, again with no false-positive results, giving a specificity of 100% (95% confidence interval, 85.8%-100%). This prompted necessary laparotomy in all 8.
CONCLUSIONS
In this series of patients with penetrating anterior chest trauma, the FAST examination was sensitive and specific in the determination of both traumatic pericardial effusion and intraperitoneal fluid indicative of injury, thus effectively guiding emergent surgical decision making.
Collapse