{"id":352,"date":"2018-07-01t12:21:21","date_gmt":"2018-07-01t12:21:21","guid":{"rendered":"\/\/www.iolishoes.com\/?page_id=352"},"modified":"2021-07-11t23:35:21","modified_gmt":"2021-07-11t13:35:21","slug":"efast-normal","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"\/\/www.iolishoes.com\/efast-normal\/","title":{"rendered":"efast normal"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
author: lynette hassall dmu ams mli.<\/p>
according to the australasian college for emergency medicine (acem), clinician performed bedside ultrasound is a \u2018limited, goal directed examination\u2019, designed and used to answer \u2018specific clinical questions\u2019. (1)<\/p>
the indications for performing a fast or efast include:<\/p>
blunt trauma
penetrating trauma
unexplained hypotension
trauma in pregnancy (2)
it is quick to perform, and should not be used as a \u2018stand-alone\u2019 examination \u2013 it should be repeated at regular intervals to check the status of the patient.<\/p>
the clinician performed efast scan is not intended to replace formal diagnostic ultrasound tests, nor is it designed to diagnose solid organ injury or other pathology.<\/p>
the fast scan should be documented, by saving images of the standard views, plus any additional images to document pathology.<\/p>
if you cannot see an area clearly, you cannot comment on this part of the examination. the decision on treatment path for the patient is then made on your physical examination, whether the patient is stable or not, the results of other tests, and your clinical opinion. it does not rest alone on what the ultrasound shows.<\/p>
the acem also recommend practical training courses, mentoring and a process of accreditation to ensure that the scans are being performed by clinicians who are competent in this technique.<\/p>
benefits of performing efast:<\/p>
noninvasive
decreases the time to diagnosis for acute abdominal injury in blunt abdominal trauma
helps accurately diagnose, and assess degree of haemoperitoneum.
can be integrated into the primary or secondary survey and can be performed quickly, without having to move the patient (or take them to another area).
can be repeated for serial examinations.
is safe in pregnant patients and children.
leads to fewer diagnostic peritoneal lavages. (3)
clinical questions<\/p>
the efast answers very simple clinical questions:<\/p>
is there significant free fluid in the pericardial cavity?
is there free fluid in the peritoneal cavity?
is there free fluid in the chest cavity?
is there a pneumothorax?
what constitutes a positive efast?<\/p>
any fluid visible in any of the potential spaces is abnormal. the four abdominal views comprise:<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> the acem recommends four views of the abdomen, and then an extension of the examination to the pleura for the fifth.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t 1. choose an appropriate transducer<\/strong><\/em> – to begin, choose either a curved array or a phased array.<\/p> the curved array will produce a wider near field of view, the phased array will produce a \u2018pizza slice\u2019 shaped image with a narrower near field, and wider far field of view<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t curved array<\/p> (also called curvilinear)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t phased array<\/p> (particularly useful for intercostal views)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t 2. enter the patient detail<\/strong><\/em>s in the machine<\/p> 3. choose an \u2018abdominal\u2019<\/strong> preset<\/strong><\/em><\/p> 4. choose the appropriate frequency setting<\/strong><\/em>:<\/p> resolution \u2013 for a slim patient or a child 6. adjust the gain<\/strong><\/em> settings so that you do not obscure small pockets of fluid with a setting that is too bright \u2013 remember in ultrasound you want to take a walk on the \u2018dark side\u2019 of the force and turn the gain down. (if available, try using the autogain function, but remember that you may still need to adjust the settings if the image on the screen requires it).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
loss of the sliding of the lung edge is abnormal.
what next? \u2013 your clinical skills dictate course of action<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>method<\/span><\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
general \u2013 this is an average setting for most patients
penetration \u2013 for a large or obese patient
5. set the\u00a0 depth<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0 \u2013 the area you are assessing should fill the screen.<\/p><\/span>1. right upper quadrant - morrison's pouch view<\/span><\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t