The focused assessment with sonography in trauma (FAST) in hypotensive injured patients frequently fails to identify the need for laparotomy: a multi-institutional pragmatic study

American Association for the Surgery of Trauma/American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma: Clinical protocol for damage-control resuscitation for the adult trauma patient

ABSTRACT

Damage-control resuscitation in the care of critically injured trauma patients aims to limit blood loss and prevent and treat coagulopathy by combining early definitive hemorrhage control, hypotensive resuscitation, and early and balanced use of blood products (hemostatic resuscitation) and the use of other hemostatic agents. This clinical protocol has been developed to provide evidence-based recommendations for optimal damage-control resuscitation in the care of trauma patients with hemorrhage.

Diagnostic accuracy for hemoperitoneum, influence on prehospital times and time-to-definitive treatment of prehospital FAST: A systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Focused assessment sonography for trauma (FAST) performed in the prehospital setting may improve trauma care by influencing treatment decisions and reducing time to definitive care, but its accuracy and benefits remain uncertain. This systematic review evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of prehospital FAST in detecting hemoperitoneum and its effects on prehospital time and time to definitive diagnosis or treatment.

METHODS

We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library up to November 11th, 2022. Studies investigating prehospital FAST and reporting at least one outcome of interest for this review were considered eligible. The primary outcome was prehospital FAST diagnostic accuracy for hemoperitoneum. A random-effect meta-analysis, including individual patient data, was performed to calculate the pooled outcomes with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Quality of studies was assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool for diagnostic accuracy.

RESULTS

We included 21 studies enrolling 5790 patients. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of prehospital FAST for hemoperitoneum were 0.630 (0.454 - 0.777) and 0.970 (0.957-0.979), respectively. Prehospital FAST was performed in a median of 2.72 (2.12 - 3.31) minutes without increasing prehospital times (pooled median difference of 2.44 min [95% CI: -3.93 - 8.81]) compared to standard management. Prehospital FAST findings changed on-scene trauma care in 12-48% of cases, the choice of admitting hospital in 13-71%, the communication with the receiving hospital in 45-52%, and the transfer management in 52-86%. Patients with a positive prehospital FAST achieved definitive diagnosis or treatment more rapidly (severity-adjusted pooled time ratio = 0.63 [95% CI: 0.41 - 0.95]) compared with patients with a negative or not performed prehospital FAST.

CONCLUSIONS

Prehospital FAST had a low sensitivity but a very high specificity to identify hemoperitoneum and reduced time-to-diagnostics or interventions, without increasing prehospital times, in patients with a high probability of abdominal bleeding. Its effect on mortality is still under-investigated.

The European guideline on management of major bleeding and coagulopathy following trauma: sixth edition

BACKGROUND

Severe trauma represents a major global public health burden and the management of post-traumatic bleeding continues to challenge healthcare systems around the world. Post-traumatic bleeding and associated traumatic coagulopathy remain leading causes of potentially preventable multiorgan failure and death if not diagnosed and managed in an appropriate and timely manner. This sixth edition of the European guideline on the management of major bleeding and coagulopathy following traumatic injury aims to advise clinicians who care for the bleeding trauma patient during the initial diagnostic and therapeutic phases of patient management.

METHODS

The pan-European, multidisciplinary Task Force for Advanced Bleeding Care in Trauma included representatives from six European professional societies and convened to assess and update the previous version of this guideline using a structured, evidence-based consensus approach. Structured literature searches covered the period since the last edition of the guideline, but considered evidence cited previously. The format of this edition has been adjusted to reflect the trend towards concise guideline documents that cite only the highest-quality studies and most relevant literature rather than attempting to provide a comprehensive literature review to accompany each recommendation.

RESULTS

This guideline comprises 39 clinical practice recommendations that follow an approximate temporal path for management of the bleeding trauma patient, with recommendations grouped behind key decision points. While approximately one-third of patients who have experienced severe trauma arrive in hospital in a coagulopathic state, a systematic diagnostic and therapeutic approach has been shown to reduce the number of preventable deaths attributable to traumatic injury.

CONCLUSION

A multidisciplinary approach and adherence to evidence-based guidelines are pillars of best practice in the management of severely injured trauma patients. Further improvement in outcomes will be achieved by optimising and standardising trauma care in line with the available evidence across Europe and beyond.

Combination of Focused Assessment With Sonography for Trauma (FAST) Scan and Detection of Hematuria to Exclude Intra-abdominal Injuries Following Blunt Abdominal Trauma

Background Blunt abdominal trauma (BAT) is the most common pattern of abdominal traumas. It may be associated with intra-abdominal injuries (IAIs). Exploratory laparotomies are only needed in a minority of patients after BAT. Methodology All BAT patients who presented to the El Demerdash Hospital of Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt during the study period were traced. Parameters including demographic data, focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) scan, CT scan results, and hematuria were collected. The cohort was divided according to the CT scan results into two groups: patients with IAIs and patients without IAIs. Results Males represented 78.2% of the patients, and the mean age of the recruited patients was 32.1 ± 18 years. Road traffic accidents represented the main cause of trauma (58%). Patients with IAIs detected by CT scan represented 1.62%, and hematuria was detected in 88.9% of them. The specificity of FAST was 97.1%, and that of hematuria was 84.1%, and for the combination of both tests, the specificity was 99.3%. Conclusion IAIs after BAT can usually be excluded if both FAST and hematuria are negative, provided that the patient is stable.

Appropriateness of Initial Course of Action in the Management of Blunt Trauma Based on a Diagnostic Workup Including an Extended Ultrasonography Scan

IMPORTANCE

The extended Focused Assessment With Sonography for Trauma (E-FAST) has become a cornerstone of the diagnostic workup in patients with trauma. The added value of a diagnostic workup including an E-FAST to support decision-making remains unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To determine how often an immediate course of action adopted in the resuscitation room based on a diagnostic workup that included an E-FAST and before whole-body computed tomography scanning (WBCT) in patients with blunt trauma was appropriate.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This cohort study was conducted at 6 French level I trauma centers between November 5, 2018, and November 5, 2019. Consecutive patients treated for blunt trauma were assessed at the participating centers. Data analysis took place in February 2022.

EXPOSURES

Diagnostic workup associating E-FAST (including abdominal, thoracic, pubic, and transcranial Doppler ultrasonography scan), systematic clinical examination, and chest and pelvic radiographs.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The main outcome criterion was the appropriateness of the observed course of action (including abstention) in the resuscitation room according to evaluation by a masked expert panel.

RESULTS

Of 515 patients screened, 510 patients (99.0%) were included. Among the 510 patients included, 394 were men (77.3%), the median (IQR) age was 46 years (29-61 years), and the median (IQR) Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 24 (17-34). Based on the initial diagnostic workup, no immediate therapeutic action was deemed necessary in 233 cases (45.7%). Conversely, the following immediate therapeutic actions were initiated before WBCT: 6 emergency laparotomies (1.2%), 2 pelvic angioembolisations (0.4%), 52 pelvic binders (10.2%), 41 chest drains (8.0%) and 16 chest decompressions (3.1%), 60 osmotherapies (11.8%), and 6 thoracotomies (1.2%). To improve cerebral blood flow based on transcranial doppler recordings, norepinephrine was initiated in 108 cases (21.2%). In summary, the expert panel considered the course of action appropriate in 493 of 510 cases (96.7%; 95% CI, 94.7%-98.0%). Among the 17 cases (3.3%) with inappropriate course of action, 13 (76%) corresponded to a deviation from existing guidelines and 4 (24%) resulted from an erroneous interpretation of the E-FAST.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

This prospective, multicenter cohort study found that a diagnostic resuscitation room workup for patients with blunt trauma that included E-FAST with clinical assessment and targeted chest and pelvic radiographs was associated with the determination of an appropriate course of action prior to WBCT.

Accuracy of Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) in Blunt Abdominal Trauma

Purpose

This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy and outcomes of focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) and determine the factors associated with true-positive FAST results.

Methods

The FAST results from 2016 to 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Cases involving penetrating injury, transfer from other hospitals, age ≤ 16 years, prehospital arrest, and no confirmatory test were excluded. Intra-abdominal fluid was confirmed using computed tomography or operative findings. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated. Demographic data, injury characteristics, and outcomes were compared between true-positive and false-negative results. Logistic regression was used to identify the factors associated with true-positive results.

Results

Of 2,758 patients, 163 and 2,595 patients showed positive and negative results, respectively. True positives were 135 and true negatives were 2325. The overall sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were 33.3%, 98.8%, 82.8%, and 89.6%, respectively. The sensitivity increased to 49.1% in patients with initial systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≤ 90 mmHg. The true-positive group showed a lower SBP and Glasgow Coma Scale score and a higher laparotomy rate than the false-negative group. However, mortality showed no significant difference. In logistic regression analysis, hollow viscus injury (1.820 [1.123–2.949], P=0.015) and the lowest SBP (0.988 [0.980–0.997], P=0.009) were associated with true-positive results compared to false-negative results.

Conclusion

The overall sensitivity of FAST was low; therefore, it should be performed in selected patients such as SBP ≤ 90 mmHg. Because of its low sensitivity and no influence on outcome, physicians should not rely solely on FAST.

Intraperitoneal Rupture of the Urinary Bladder Mimics an Intra-Abdominal Hemorrhage: A Case Report

Hemorrhagic shock due to polytrauma is a life-threatening condition, requiring immediate diagnosis of the bleeding site and determination of an appropriate hemostatic procedure. Intra-abdominal injuries and pelvic fractures are major causes of massive hemorrhage, although the appropriate hemostatic procedures are different for each injury. We present a case of intraperitoneal rupture of the urinary bladder associated with pelvic fracture, in which urine extravasation into peritoneal spaces mimics intra-abdominal hemorrhage. A 33-year-old man with a known case of schizophrenia attempted suicide by jumping down from the 4th floor of his apartment (approximately 10 meters in height). He was in a state of shock on arrival. Focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) showed fluid collection around his spleen only but not the perivesical space. Pelvic X-ray showed multiple pelvic fractures. We suspected the patient was in a state of hemorrhagic shock due to intra-abdominal hemorrhage and pelvic fracture. The patient's hemodynamic status did not respond to massive fluid infusion and blood transfusion, including eight units of packed RBCs transfusion. Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta was performed; however, the patient's hemodynamic status did not recover. We performed an emergency laparotomy to control the suspected intra-abdominal hemorrhage. In peritoneal space, we found a large amount of non-bloody fluid. The liver, spleen, and bowels were not injured, whereas the urinary bladder was ruptured, indicating the correct diagnosis was intraperitoneal rupture of the urinary bladder associated with pelvic fracture. The ruptured urinary bladder wall was sutured, and temporary abdominal closure was performed. A contrast-enhanced CT performed after the laparotomy showed massive hemorrhage around the pelvic fracture. After arrival at the angiography room, the patient became bradycardia, and the pulsation at the carotid artery was not palpable. We performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation; however, the patient died eventually. Intraperitoneal rupture of the urinary bladder would mimic an intra-abdominal hemorrhage. Therefore, a comprehensive diagnostic-treatment approach such as a hybrid ER system would be beneficial for early and accurate diagnosis.

Focused assessment with sonography for trauma in predicting early surgical intervention in hemodynamically unstable children with blunt abdominal trauma

OBJECTIVES

The predictive accuracy and clinical role of the focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) exam in pediatric blunt abdominal trauma are uncertain. This study investigates the performance of the emergency department (ED) FAST exam to predict early surgical intervention and subsequent free fluid (FF) in pediatric trauma patients.

METHODS

Pediatric level 1 trauma patients ages 0 to 15 years with blunt torso trauma at a single trauma center were retrospectively reviewed. After stratification by initial hemodynamic (HD) instability, the association of a positive FAST with (1) early surgical intervention, defined as operative management (laparotomy or open pericardial window) or angiography within 4 hours of ED arrival and (2) presence of FF during early surgical intervention was determined.

RESULTS

Among 508 salvageable pediatric trauma patients with an interpreted FAST exam, 35 (6.9%) had HD instability and 98 (19.3%) were FAST positive. A total of 42 of 508 (8.3%) patients required early surgical intervention, and the sensitivity and specificity of FAST predicting early surgical intervention were 59.5% and 84.3%, respectively. The specificity and positive predictive value of FF during early surgical intervention in FAST-positive HD unstable patients increased from 50% and 90.9% at 4 hours after ED arrival to 100% and 100% at 2 hours after ED arrival, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In this large series of injured children, a positive FAST exam improves the ability to predict the need for early surgical intervention, and accuracy is greater for FF in HD unstable patients 2 hours after arrival to the ED.

Comparison of Shock Index With the Assessment of Blood Consumption Score for Association With Massive Transfusion During Hemorrhage Control for Trauma

BACKGROUND

Hemorrhage is a leading cause of early mortality following trauma. A massive transfusion protocol (MTP) to guide resuscitation while bleeding is definitively controlled may improve outcomes. Prompts to initiate massive transfusion (MT) include shock index (SI) and the Assessment of Blood Consumption (ABC) score.

OBJECTIVE

To compare SI with the ABC score for association with transfusion requirement, need for emergency hemorrhage interventions, and early mortality.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort analysis of trauma MTP activations at our Level I trauma center was conducted from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2016. The study data were obtained from the Trauma Registry and the blood bank. An SI cutoff of 1.0 was chosen for comparison with the positive ABC score.

RESULTS

The study cohort included 146 patients. Shock index ≥ 1 had significant association with MT requirement (p = .002) whereas a positive ABC score did not (p = .65). More patients with SI ≥ 1 required bleeding control interventions (67% surgery, 47% interventional radiology) than patients having a positive ABC score (49% surgery, 29% interventional radiology). For geriatric patients who received MT, 65% had SI ≥ 1 but only 30% had a positive ABC score. Three-hour mortality following emergency department arrival was similar (60% SI ≥ 1, 62% positive ABC score).

CONCLUSION

Shock index ≥ 1 outperformed a positive ABC score for association with MT requirement. Shock index is a simple tool registered nurses can independently utilize to anticipate MT.

Diagnostic Peritoneal Aspiration Revisited: Its Diagnostic Accuracy for the Detection of Intraabdominal Hemorrhage

BACKGROUND

The use of Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) in combination with computed tomography (CT) has become the mainstay of diagnostic workup in patients with suspected intraabdominal hemorrhage (IAH). However, diagnostic peritoneal aspiration (DPA) can be an important adjunct in hemodynamically unstable patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility and diagnostic accuracy of DPA in detecting IAH.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of all patients who presented to the LAC+USC Medical Center and underwent evaluation with DPA between January 2010 and December 2016. Intraoperative, CT, and autopsy findings were used as gold standards in determining the diagnostic accuracy of DPA for the detection of IAH.

RESULTS

A total of 73 consecutive patients were included in the study. The median age was 42 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 25-56), median injury severity score was 29 (IQR: 21-41), and 82.2% sustained blunt trauma. The most common indications for DPA were hemodynamically unstable patients with suspected IAH and patients with return of spontaneous circulation following resuscitative thoracotomy. Overall, the positive and negative predictive values of DPA were 89.4% and 88.9%, respectively. In 14 cases (19.2%), DPA correctly identified false positive/negative FAST results.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest that DPA has high diagnostic yield for IAH. The use of DPA should be considered in unstable patients with inconclusive FAST results who cannot safely be evaluated with CT.

Team Approach: Evaluation and Management of Pelvic Ring Injuries

A multidisciplinary approach to the management of pelvic ring injuries has been shown to decrease mortality rates. The primary goals within the emergency room are to assess, resuscitate, and stabilize the patient. The Advanced Trauma Life Support protocol guides the initial assessment of the patient. A pelvic binder or sheet should be applied to help to provide reduction of the fracture and temporary stabilization. The trauma team becomes the primary service for the patient as he or she transitions away from the emergency department. The trauma team must effectively communicate with and serve as the liaison between other specialists as injuries are identified. emodynamic stability should be closely monitored in patients with pelvic ring injuries, involving the assessment of vital signs, imaging findings, and clinical judgment. Angioembolization and peritoneal packing may play a role in helping to control hemorrhage. Urologists should be consulted if a Foley catheter cannot be passed or there is concern for urethral or bladder injury. Further imaging or urologic intervention may be necessary. Orthopaedic surgeons can help to assess the patient, classify the injury, and assist in temporary stabilization while planning definitive fixation.

Important learning points arising from the focused issue dedicated to the Terror and Disaster Surgical Care (TDSC®) course on mass casualty incident management

The Terror and Disaster Surgical Care (TDSC®) course on mass casualty incident management was formulated in Germany by military medical personnel, who have been deployed to conflict areas, but also work in hospitals open for the lay public. In this manuscript we discuss different concepts and ideas taught in this course as these are described in a focused issue recently published in the European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery. We provide reinforcement for some of the ideas conveyed. We provide alternative views for others. Injuries following explosions are different from blunt and penetrating trauma and at times demand a different approach. There are probably several ways to manage a mass casualty incident depending on the setup of the organization. An open discussion on the topics presented in the manuscripts included in the focused issue on military and disaster surgery should enrich everyone.

The FASILA Score: A Novel Bio-Clinical Score to Predict Massive Blood Transfusion in Patients with Abdominal Trauma

Background

Early identification of patients who may need massive blood transfusion remains a major challenge in trauma care. This study proposed a novel and easy-to-calculate prediction score using clinical and point of care laboratory findings in patients with abdominal trauma (AT).

Methods

Patients with AT admitted to a trauma center in Qatar between 2014 and 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. The FASILA score was proposed and calculated using focused assessment with sonography in trauma (0 = negative, 1 = positive), Shock Index (SI) (0 = 0.50–0.69, 1 = 0.70–0.79, 2 = 0.80–0.89, and 3 ≥ 0.90), and initial serum lactate (0 ≤ 2.0, 1 = 2.0–4.0, and 2 ≥ 4.0 mmol/l). Outcome variables included mortality, laparotomy, and massive blood transfusion (MT). FASILA was compared to other prediction scores using receiver operating characteristics and areas under the curves. Bootstrap procedure was employed for internal validation.

Results

In 1199 patients with a mean age of 31 ± 13.5 years, MT, MT protocol (MTP) activation, exploratory laparotomy (ExLap), and hospital mortality were related linearly with the FASILA score, Injury Severity Score, and total length of hospital stay. Initial hemoglobin, Revised Trauma Score (RTS), and Trauma Injury Severity Score (TRISS) were inversely proportional. FASILA scores correlated significantly with the Assessment of Blood Consumption (ABC) (r = 0.65), Revised Assessment of Bleeding and Transfusion (RABT) (r = 0.63), SI (r = 0.72), RTS (r = − 0.34), and Glasgow Coma Scale (r = − 0.32) and outperformed other predictive systems (RABT, ABC, and SI) in predicting MT, MTP, ExLap, and mortality.

Conclusions

The novel FASILA score performs well in patients with abdominal trauma and offers advantages over other scores.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s00268-019-05289-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.