Extended Focused Assessment With Sonography For Trauma Research Articles

Comparative study of National Emergency X-Radiography Utilization Study (NEXUS) chest algorithm and extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma (E-FAST) in the early detection of blunt chest injuries in polytrauma patients.

Chest imaging plays a prominent role in the assessment of patients with blunt trauma. Selection of the right approach at the right time is fundamental in the management of patients with blunt chest trauma.[1] A reliable, economic, bedside, and rapidly accomplished screening test can be pivotal. [2]. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of extended- focused assessment with sonography for trauma (E-FAST) to that of the National Emergency X-Radiography Utilisation Study (NEXUS) chest algorithm in detecting blunt chest injuries. This descriptive cross-sectional study included 50 polytrauma patients with blunt chest trauma from the emergency centre of Suez Canal University Hospital. E-FAST and computed tomography (CT) were conducted, followed by reporting of NEXUS criteria for all patients. Blinding of the E-FAST performer and CT reporter were confirmed. The results of both the NEXUS algorithm and E-FAST were compared with CT chest results. The NEXUS algorithm had 100% sensitivity and 15.3% specificity, and E-FAST had 70% sensitivity and 96.7% specificity, in the detection of pneumothorax.In the detection of hemothorax, the sensitivity and specificity of the NEXUS algorithm were 90% and 7.5%, respectively, whereas E-FAST had a lower sensitivity of 80% and a higher specificity of 97.5%. E-FAST is highly specific for the detection of hemothorax, pneumothorax, and chest injuries compared with the NEXUS chest algorithm, which demonstrated the lowest specificity. However, the NEXUS chest algorithm showed a higher sensitivity than E-FAST and hence can be used effectively to rule out thoracic injury.

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

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

Diagnostic Accuracy of Extended Focused Assessment with Sonography For Trauma (E-FAST) Keeping Contrast Enhanced CT Chest And Abdomen As Gold Standard

Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma (E-FAST) for detecting thoraco-abdominal trauma, keeping contrast-enhanced CT chest and abdomen as the gold standard.
 Study Design: Cross-sectional study.
 Place and Duration of Study: Department of Radiology, Combined Military Hospital, Quetta, from Jan 2020 to Aug 2021.
 Methodology: A total of (n=196) patients, of age 18-60 years, of both genders, who sustained thoraco-abdominal injuries and were referred for contrast-enhanced Computed tomography of the chest and abdomen were enrolled in the study. Patients were subjected to the thorax and abdomen ultrasonographic examination first and then underwent a contrast-enhanced CT scan of the thorax and abdomen. The findings of both modalities were recorded and subjected to statistical analysis to confirm the accuracy of ultrasound, considering CT-scan as a gold standard procedure.
 Results: The mean age of the patients was 35 10.6. There were 164 (83.7%) males and 32 (16.3%) females. Blunt trauma was seen in 131 (66.8%) and penetrating trauma in 65 (32.2%) patients. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of E-FAST for chest trauma was 79.4%, 94.7%, 87.6%, 90.7% and 89.8% respectively, for abdominal trauma was 68.6%, 95.2%, 88.8%, 84.5% and 85.7% respectively and for combined chest and abdominal trauma was 77.1%, 95.9%, 85.9%, 92.8% and 91.3% respectively.
 Conclusion: E-FAST has good diagnostic accuracy for the chest, abdominal and both thoraco-abdominal trauma and can be incorporated into the routine assessment of patients presenting with trauma.

Development of a Consensus-Based Definition of Focused Assessment With Sonography for Trauma in Children

The wide variation in the accuracy and reliability of the Focused Assessment With Sonography for Trauma (FAST) and the extended FAST (E-FAST) for children after blunt abdominal trauma reflects user expertise. FAST and E-FAST that are performed by experts tend to be more complete, better quality, and more often clinically valuable. To develop definitions of a complete, high-quality, and accurate interpretation for the FAST and E-FAST in children with injury using an expert, consensus-based modified Delphi technique. This consensus-based qualitative study was conducted between May 1 to June 30, 2021. It used a scoping review and iterative Delphi technique and involved 2 rounds of online surveys and a live webinar to achieve consensus among a 26-member panel. This panel consisted of international experts in pediatric emergency point-of-care ultrasonography. Definitions of complete, high-quality, and accurate FAST and E-FAST studies for children after injury. Of the 29 invited pediatric FAST experts, 26 (15 men [58%]) agreed to participate in the panel. All 26 panelists completed the 2 rounds of surveys, and 24 (92%) participated in the live and asynchronous online discussions. Consensus was reached on FAST and E-FAST study definitions, and the panelists rated these 5 anatomic views as important and appropriate for a complete FAST: right upper-quadrant abdominal view, left upper-quadrant abdominal view, suprapubic views (transverse and sagittal), and subxiphoid cardiac view. For E-FAST, the same FAST anatomic views with the addition of the lung or pneumothorax view were deemed appropriate and important. In addition, the panelists rated a total of 32 landmarks as important for assessing completeness. Similarly, the panelists rated 14 statements on quality and 20 statements on accurate interpretation as appropriate. This qualitative study generated definitions for complete FAST and E-FAST studies with high image quality and accurate interpretation in children with injury. These definitions are similar to those in adults with injury and may be used for future education, quality assurance, and research. Future research may focus on interpretation of trace volumes of abdominal free fluid and the use of serial FAST.

Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Trauma: More Than a FAST Exam

Features| March 2022 Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Trauma: More Than a FAST Exam Laura Girón-Arango, MD; Laura Girón-Arango, MD Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Marcos Silva Restrepo, MD, MSc, FRCPC, FASE; Marcos Silva Restrepo, MD, MSc, FRCPC, FASE Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Pablo Pérez d'Empaire, MD, FRCPC, FCCM, FASE Pablo Pérez d'Empaire, MD, FRCPC, FCCM, FASE Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar ASA Monitor March 2022, Vol. 86, 31–32. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.ASM.0000823092.52893.e9 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Cite Icon Cite Get Permissions Search Site Citation Laura Girón-Arango, Marcos Silva Restrepo, Pablo Pérez d'Empaire; Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Trauma: More Than a FAST Exam. ASA Monitor 2022; 86:31–32 doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/01.ASM.0000823092.52893.e9 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAll PublicationsASA Monitor Search Advanced Search Topics: focused assessment with sonography of trauma, point-of-care ultrasonography, wounds and injuries, ultrasonography Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in trauma was introduced early with the Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) exam, a well-known scanning protocol incorporated into the Advanced Trauma Life Support® program to help with the diagnosis of life-threatening situations during the primary survey. The original FAST exam included four views: right and left upper quadrant, suprapubic, and subxiphoid (pericardial). The FAST protocol now includes the examination of the chest to assess for pneumothorax, now known as the Extended FAST (E-FAST). More recently, POCUS has moved well beyond the E-FAST, providing potential value for diagnosis and management of trauma patients (Semin Ultrasound CT MR 2018;39:374-83). We will focus on the more novel applications for upper-airway and gastric exams as well as resuscitation transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Upper-airway ultrasound is a quick, non-invasive, and reliable tool to enhance the management of the airway in situations when the anatomy can be altered... You do not currently have access to this content.

The use of ultrasound in establishing COVID-19 infection as part of a trauma evaluation.

PurposeThe use of lung ultrasound for diagnosis of COVID-19 has emerged during the pandemic as a beneficial diagnostic modality due to its rapid availability, bedside use, and lack of radiation. This study aimed to determine if routine ultrasound (US) imaging of the lungs of trauma patients with COVID-19 infections who undergo extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma (EFAST) correlates with computed tomography (CT) imaging and X-ray findings, as previously reported in other populations.MethodsThis was a prospective, observational feasibility study performed at two level 1 trauma centers. US, CT, and X-ray imaging were retrospectively reviewed by a surgical trainee and a board-certified radiologist to determine any correlation of imaging findings in patients with active COVID-19 infection.ResultsThere were 53 patients with lung US images from EFAST available for evaluation and COVID-19 testing. The overall COVID-19 positivity rate was 7.5%. COVID-19 infection was accurately identified by one patient on US by the trainee, but there was a 15.1% false-positive rate for infection based on the radiologist examination.ConclusionsEvaluation of the lung during EFAST cannot be used in the trauma setting to identify patients with active COVID-19 infection or to stratify patients as high or low risk of infection. This is likely due to differences in lung imaging technique and the presence of concomitant thoracic injury.

Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma

The focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) is a screening ultrasound examination used to identify traumatic free fluid in the pericardium and peritoneum through four key windows: the subxiphoid, the hepatorenal recess, the splenorenal recess, and the suprapubic views. The primary role for the FAST examination is in the bedside evaluation of hemodynamically unstable blunt trauma patients to help direct operative management. The extended FAST (E-FAST) examination involves additional evaluation of the thorax and can reliably identify hemothorax and pneumothorax. The advantages of these modalities include rapid speed, low cost, and a lack of ionizing radiation. The limitations include operator dependence, although validated assessments hold promise in mitigating this issue, and poor sensitivity in identifying retroperitoneal hemorrhages, diaphragmatic injuries, and solid-organ injuries that do not produce significant intraperitoneal hemorrhage. In the future, contrast-enhanced ultrasonography may improve ultrasonographic evaluation of solid-organ injury. Nevertheless, significant concerns remain regarding the wide ranges of sensitivity reported for the FAST examination overall, and ongoing research may better identify its optimal role in evaluating trauma patients. This review contains 10 figures, 7 tables, 8 videos and 58 references Keywords: Blunt trauma; focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST); extended FAST (E-FAST); hemothorax; pneumothorax; ultrasonography

Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma

The focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) is a screening ultrasound examination used to identify traumatic free fluid in the pericardium and peritoneum through four key windows: the subxiphoid, the hepatorenal recess, the splenorenal recess, and the suprapubic views. The primary role for the FAST examination is in the bedside evaluation of hemodynamically unstable blunt trauma patients to help direct operative management. The extended FAST (E-FAST) examination involves additional evaluation of the thorax and can reliably identify hemothorax and pneumothorax. The advantages of these modalities include rapid speed, low cost, and a lack of ionizing radiation. The limitations include operator dependence, although validated assessments hold promise in mitigating this issue, and poor sensitivity in identifying retroperitoneal hemorrhages, diaphragmatic injuries, and solid-organ injuries that do not produce significant intraperitoneal hemorrhage. In the future, contrast-enhanced ultrasonography may improve ultrasonographic evaluation of solid-organ injury. Nevertheless, significant concerns remain regarding the wide ranges of sensitivity reported for the FAST examination overall, and ongoing research may better identify its optimal role in evaluating trauma patients. This review contains 10 figures, 7 tables, 8 videos and 58 references Keywords: Blunt trauma; focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST); extended FAST (E-FAST); hemothorax; pneumothorax; ultrasonography

Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma

The focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) is a screening ultrasound examination used to identify traumatic free fluid in the pericardium and peritoneum through four key windows: the subxiphoid, the hepatorenal recess, the splenorenal recess, and the suprapubic views. The primary role for the FAST examination is in the bedside evaluation of hemodynamically unstable blunt trauma patients to help direct operative management. The extended FAST (E-FAST) examination involves additional evaluation of the thorax and can reliably identify hemothorax and pneumothorax. The advantages of these modalities include rapid speed, low cost, and a lack of ionizing radiation. The limitations include operator dependence, although validated assessments hold promise in mitigating this issue, and poor sensitivity in identifying retroperitoneal hemorrhages, diaphragmatic injuries, and solid-organ injuries that do not produce significant intraperitoneal hemorrhage. In the future, contrast-enhanced ultrasonography may improve ultrasonographic evaluation of solid-organ injury. Nevertheless, significant concerns remain regarding the wide ranges of sensitivity reported for the FAST examination overall, and ongoing research may better identify its optimal role in evaluating trauma patients. This review contains 10 figures, 7 tables, 8 videos and 58 references Keywords: Blunt trauma; focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST); extended FAST (E-FAST); hemothorax; pneumothorax; ultrasonography

Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma

The focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) is a screening ultrasound examination used to identify traumatic free fluid in the pericardium and peritoneum through four key windows: the subxiphoid, the hepatorenal recess, the splenorenal recess, and the suprapubic views. The primary role for the FAST examination is in the bedside evaluation of hemodynamically unstable blunt trauma patients to help direct operative management. The extended FAST (E-FAST) examination involves additional evaluation of the thorax and can reliably identify hemothorax and pneumothorax. The advantages of these modalities include rapid speed, low cost, and a lack of ionizing radiation. The limitations include operator dependence, although validated assessments hold promise in mitigating this issue, and poor sensitivity in identifying retroperitoneal hemorrhages, diaphragmatic injuries, and solid-organ injuries that do not produce significant intraperitoneal hemorrhage. In the future, contrast-enhanced ultrasonography may improve ultrasonographic evaluation of solid-organ injury. Nevertheless, significant concerns remain regarding the wide ranges of sensitivity reported for the FAST examination overall, and ongoing research may better identify its optimal role in evaluating trauma patients. This review contains 10 figures, 7 tables, 8 videos and 58 references Keywords: Blunt trauma; focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST); extended FAST (E-FAST); hemothorax; pneumothorax; ultrasonography

Novel Approach to Ultrasound-Guided Thoracostomy.

Thoracostomy is often a required treatment in patients with thoracic trauma; however, performing a thoracostomy using traditional techniques can have complications. Ultrasound can be a beneficial tool for identifying the correct thoracostomy insertion site. We designed a randomized prospective study to assess if ultrasound guidance can improve thoracostomy site identification over traditional techniques. Emergency medicine residents were randomly assigned to use palpation or ultrasound to identify a safe insertion site for thoracostomy placement. The target population comprised of hemodynamically stable trauma patients who received an extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma (EFAST) and a chest computed tomography (CT) exam. The resident placed a radiopaque marker on the skin of the patient where a safe intercostal space was believed to be located, either by palpation or ultrasound. Clinical ultrasound faculty reviewed the CT to confirm marker placement relative to the diaphragm. A Fischer's exact test was used to analyze the groups. One hundred and forty-seven patients were enrolled in the study, 75 in the ultrasound group and 72 in the landmark group. This resulted in the placement of 271 total thoracostomy site markers, 142 by ultrasound and 129 by palpation and landmarks. The ultrasound group correctly identified thoracostomy insertion sites above the diaphragm in 97.2% (138/142) of patients, while the palpation group identified a safe insertion site in 88.4% (114/129) of patients (P=.0073). This study found that emergency medicine residents are more likely to identify a safe tube thoracostomy insertion site in trauma patients by using ultrasound, as compared to using landmarks and palpation.

Extended Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (EFAST) Exam

This video-article covers pertinent information related to the focused assessment with sonography for trauma exam, which evaluates the pericardial, hepatorenal, splenorenal, and suprapubic regions for free fluid in a trauma patient. It also covers additional information regarding the extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma (EFAST) exam, which includes an additional evaluation of the pleural spaces for a pneumothorax.

Diagnostic performance of the extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma (EFAST) patients in a tertiary care hospital of Nepal

BackgroundThoracoabdominal trauma presents a diagnostic challenge for the emergency physician. The introduction of bedside ultrasonography (USG) provides a screening tool to detect hemoperitoneum, hemothorax, pneumothorax and pericardial effusion in torso...

Point-of-care resuscitation research: From extreme to mainstream: Trauma Association of Canada Fraser Gurd Lecture 2019.

The Gurd Family surgical legacy was deeply intertwined with National service in both World Wars. My own personal research mission has attempted to emulate such service, by enhancing the tools and techniques available to facilitate point-of-care diagnosis and resuscitation in extreme and adverse environments. Our efforts involving point-of-care diagnosis/resuscitation and the telementored guidance of those remotely responding to catastrophic injury have included collaborations with National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) the Canadian Space Agency, the Canadian Forces, its democratic allies, and non-governmental surgical organizations. Research has been conducted in resuscitative suites and operating theaters, research laboratories, parabolic flight aircraft, on humanitarian surgical missions, and from ski-hills and firehalls. The initial phases of these efforts involved inaugural studies in resuscitative sonography including defining the Extended Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (EFAST) examination. Although the original work was commissioned for Space Medicine, generalization to mainstream practice further justifies space medicine research. Iterative steps in advancing telementored resuscitation have subsequently involved the maturation of space-mandated telementored ultrasound support (TMUS), exploration of TMUS in terrestrial clinical practice, and the creation of increasingly mobile (hand-held) TMUS solutions. Subsequently it was recognized that teleultrasound is simply one informatic dimension of remote telemedicine, and current efforts are focused in a Program known as TeleMentored Ultrasound Supported Medical Interactions (TMUSMI) of remote responders required to intervene with catastrophic trauma. While this research program has yielded many techniques and findings that have benefited mainstream terrestrial practice, these investigations are currently ongoing, and we hope to demonstrate that TMUSMI may benefit all Canadians especially those in remote areas, as well as potentially every global inhabitant without immediate access to care. Further, we propose that to fully utilize these techniques, a new specialty, that of the remote medical mentor will be required, a new specialty that will require the creation and scientific validation of its principles and techniques.

Is E-FAST possible and useful on the battlefield? A feasibility study during medical courses in hostile environment (MEDICHOS): preliminary results

IntroductionThe extent of the French forces’ territory in the Sahel band generates long medical evacuations. In case of many victims, to respect the golden hour rule, first-line sorting is essential....

The combined utility of extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma and chest x-ray in blunt thoracic trauma.

Portable chest x-ray (CXR) and extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma (EFAST) screen patients for thoracic injury in the trauma bay. It is unclear if one test alone is sufficient, if both are required, or if the two investigations are complementary. Study objectives were to define the combined diagnostic yield of EFAST and CXR among stable blunt thoracic trauma patients and to determine if a normal EFAST and CXR might obviate the need for computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest. All blunt trauma patients 15 years or older presenting to LAC+USC Medical Center in 2016 were screened. Only patients who underwent CT thorax were included. Patients were excluded if they presented more than 24 hours after injury, were transferred, or if they did not undergo EFAST and CXR. Demographics, physical examination (PEx) of the thorax, injury data, investigations, procedures, and outcomes were collected. The EFAST, CXR, and PEx findings were compared to the gold standard CT thorax to calculate the diagnostic yield of each investigation and combinations thereof in the assessment for clinically significant thoracic injury. One thousand three hundred eleven patients met inclusion/exclusion criteria. Most common mechanisms of injury were motor vehicle collision (n = 385, 29%) and auto versus pedestrian trauma (n = 379, 29%). Mean Injury Severity Score was 11 (1-75), with mean Abbreviated Injury Scale chest score of 1.6 (1-6). The sensitivities of EFAST, CXR, and PEx, either individually or in combination, were less than 0.73 in the detection of clinically significant thoracic injury. The most common missed clinically significant injuries were sternal fractures, scapular fractures, clavicular fractures, and pneumothoraces. Motorcycle collisions and auto versus pedestrian traumas resulted in the highest rates of missed injury. Even in conjunction with the physical examination, the sensitivity of EFAST+CXR in the detection of clinically significant thoracic injury is low. Therefore, if clinical suspicion for injury exists after blunt thoracic trauma, a normal EFAST+CXR is insufficient to exclude injury and CT scan of the chest should be performed. Diagnostic tests/criteria, level III.

ULTRASIM: Ultrasound in trauma simulation.

This study sought to assess the effectiveness of ultrasound simulation as a component of high-fidelity trauma simulation, in training diagnostic capabilities of resident and attending physicians participating in simulated trauma scenarios. Twelve residents and 20 attending physicians participated in 114 trauma simulations. Participants generated a ranked differential diagnosis list after a physical exam and subsequently after a simulated extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma (E-FAST) ultrasound scan. We compared reports to determine whether the addition of ultrasound improved diagnostic performance. The primary diagnosis accuracy improved significantly with the addition of simulated ultrasound (p<0.0001). Median diagnostic ranking scores also improved (p<0.0001). Further, participants reported a higher confidence in their diagnoses (p<0.0001) and narrowed their differential diagnosis list (p<0.0001). We demonstrated that a low-cost ultrasound simulator can be successfully integrated into trauma simulations, resulting in an associated improvement in measures of diagnostic accuracy, confidence, and precision for participating resident and attending physicians.

[Diagnostic value of dynamic-extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma in patients with multiple trauma].

To investigate the diagnostic value of dynamic-extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma (D-EFAST) in patients with multiple trauma in intensive care unit (ICU). A prospective clinical study was conducted. Eighty patients with multiple trauma admitted to ICU of Anhui Provincial Hospital from September 1st, 2014 to December 31st, 2016 were enrolled. Extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma (E-FAST) check was conducted at first, for those who had positive findings diagnosis was confirmed by immediately CT examination or surgical exploration. If it was negative, the patients received E-FAST every morning for 7 days (defined as D-EFAST), for those with positive findings, immediately CT or surgery was performed to clarify the diagnosis. The final clinical diagnosis was used as the "gold standard" to calculate the diagnostic accordance rate of EFAST and D-EFAST examination technique for pneumothorax, pleural effusion, spleen injury, kidney damage, liver damage, gastrointestinal injury, pericardial effusion, bladder rupture, and pancreatic injury, as well as their sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, accuracy rate, and missed diagnosis rate, and the difference between EFAST and D-EFAST was compared. There were 4 patients excluded because of death and abandoning treatment, and finally 76 patients were included in the study. The total sensitivity of E-FAST examination technique for pneumothorax, pleural effusion, spleen injury, liver damage, gastrointestinal injury, pericardial effusion, and bladder rupture was 75.9% (66/87), and the specificity was 98.3% (587/597), the positive predictive value was 86.8% (66/76), and the negative predictive value was 96.5% (587/608), the accuracy rate was 95.5% (653/684), and the rate of missed diagnosis was 24.1% (21/87). The most of the delayed injury in patients with multiple trauma occurred at 2-7 days after injury with incidence of 4.8% (33/684). The diagnostic sensitivity of D-EFAST for delayed injury was 98.3% (118/120), the specificity was 99.8% (563/564), the positive predictive value was 99.2% (118/119), the negative predictive value was 99.6% (563/565), the diagnostic accuracy rate was 99.6% (681/684), and rate of missed diagnosis was 1.7% (2/120). When the final clinical diagnosis was set as the "gold standard", D-EFAST technology for the detection rate was 98.3% (118/120) for patients with multiple trauma on organ injury while the detection rate of E-FAST was 75.9% (66/87), with statistical significant difference (P < 0.01), indicating that D-EFAST was better than E-FAST in check of multiple trauma patients with organ injury. Although the E-FAST technology can quickly diagnose the multiple trauma patients and win the rescue time for critical patients, multiple trauma patients injured after 2-7 days prone to delayed damage and are difficult to detect, and D-EFAST can be used to find delayed damage earlier, and reduce the misdiagnosis rate of multiple trauma patients.

Beyond E-FAST scan in trauma: Diagnosing of traumatic diaphragmatic rupture with bedside ultrasound

Traumatic diaphragmatic rupture is relatively rare, and even more difficult to diagnose. Physical examination often fails to identify this injury, and basic investigation like chest x-ray can miss this half of the time. Although not part of standard FAST (focused assessment with sonography for trauma) ultrasound scan in trauma, bedside ultrasound has the potential to pick up this pathology. This case illustrates that ultrasound in trauma can go beyond standard E-FAST (extended FAST) protocol.

Bedside ultrasound (Part 2) - The fast examination

In the setting of blunt or penetrating injury to the abdomen and chest, bedside ultrasound in the form of the extended-focused assessment with sonography for trauma (E-FAST) examination plays a vital role in rapid diagnosis of bleeding in the abdominal and thoracic cavities. Rapid diagnosis and intervention based on the diagnosis is associated with better treatment outcomes. E-FAST is rapid, can be done along with the primary and secondary survey without disrupting resuscitative measures, is noninterventional, and does not involve exposure to ionizing radiation. It can be used to detect hematoma in the intraperitoneal cavity and pelvis, hemothorax, pneumothorax, and pericardial effusion using eight standard views. The disadvantages are that it is operator dependent and requires some amount of training, and a negative E-FAST study does not necessarily exclude serious intra-abdominal injury.