Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma

Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (FAST) is "a limited ultrasound examination directed solely at identifying the presence of free intraperitoneal or pericardial fluid. In the context of traumatic injury, free fluid is usually due to hemorrhage and contributes to the assessment of the circulation." It should be considered an extension to the physical examination rather than a formal imaging study, since its goal is quick confirmation of bleeding, not detailed characterization of organs or even the source of the bleeding.

FAST has been called Focused Abdominal Sonography for Trauma, but that is misleading since it is also useful in detecting bleeding in the chest. specifically the pericardium. The areas to be assessed are:

1. Perihepatic & hepato-renal space (i.e., the area of the liver and kidneys)
2. Perisplenic (i.e., the region of the spleen)
3. Pelvis
4. Pericardium