The utility of FAST for initial abdominal screening of major pelvic fracture patients.

World J Surg

Trauma Unit, Department of Surgery, Academic Medical Center (AMC), University of Amsterdam (UvA), Meibergdreef 9, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands,

Published: July 2014

AI Article Synopsis

  • FAST is an effective tool for detecting hemoperitoneum in pelvic fracture patients, showing sensitivity and specificity that vary with the size of the hemoperitoneum.
  • A study with 120 patients revealed that while FAST accurately predicts the presence of hemoperitoneum, it is not reliable for predicting the need for immediate hemorrhage control.
  • However, a negative FAST result strongly indicates that intervention for internal bleeding is unlikely, especially in patients experiencing hemorrhagic shock.

Article Abstract

Background: Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) is widely used in pelvic fracture patients. We examined the performance of FAST for detecting hemoperitoneum and predicting the need for intra-abdominal hemorrhage control in major pelvic fracture patients.

Methods: A 5-year retrospective study of major pelvic fracture patients was performed. The presence of hemoperitoneum was confirmed on CT or at laparotomy. The need for hemorrhage control was defined as requiring a surgical or radiological intervention for intra-abdominal bleeding. Hemorrhagic shock (HS) patients had a systolic blood pressure ≤ 90 mmHg or base deficit of ≥ 6 mEq/L on admission.

Results: A total of 120 patients were included, 42 (35 %) of which had any hemoperitoneum and 21 (18 %) had a moderate-large amount. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of FAST for any hemoperitoneum were 64, 94, 84, and 83 % and for a moderate-large amount they were 86, 86, 56, and 97 %. In HS patients the indices were 68, 93, 88, and 78 % for any hemoperitoneum and 79, 83, 65, and 91 % for a moderate-large amount. For the need for hemorrhage control, FAST had a positive predictive value of 50 % (16/32) in all and 71 % (12/17) in HS patients. The negative predictive value was 99 % (87/88) in all and 97 % (31/32) in HS patients.

Conclusion: FAST had a good to excellent diagnostic accuracy, depending on the size of hemoperitoneum. A positive FAST result (even in HS patients) does not reliably predict the need for immediate intra-abdominal hemorrhage control but a negative FAST result renders the need for an intervention highly unlikely.

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00268-013-2412-zDOI Listing

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