FAST (Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma) is a rapid bedside ultrasound examination performed by medical professionals to screen for blood around the heart or in the abdominal cavity after trauma. It scans five key regions of the body using ultrasound to check for fluid indicating injuries to organs like the liver, spleen, kidneys, or presence of blood in the chest or abdominal cavities.

1. FAST
Focused assessment with sonography
for trauma

2. • is a rapid bedside ultrasound examination
performed by surgeons, emergency physicians
and certain paramedics as a screening test for
blood around the heart (pericardial effusion)
or abdominal organs ( hemo peritoneum)
after trauma.

3. Technique
• patient in supine position
• 3.5-5.0 MHz convex transducer
• five regions may be scanned
• subxiphoid transverse view:
pericardial effusion
left lobe liver injuries
• longitudinal view of the right upper quadrant:
right liver injuries
right kidney injury
Morison pouch
• longitudinal view of the left upper quadrant:
splenic injury
left kidney injury
• transverse and longitudinal views of the suprapubic region:
bladder
pouch of Douglas
• left and right thoracic views
pneumothorax and haemothorax