Significance of Fast in Blunt Abdominal Trauma

Abstract

Background: Blunt abdominal trauma is a common problem in our country.Some of the cases had been explored on no bases which were negative by FAST(focused assessment with sonography of trauma)FAST is a tool to detect intra-abdominal collection. 

Objective: To appreciate the value of (FAST) in blunt abdominal trauma. 

Patients and Methods: This study performed by a collection of 100 cases of blunt abdominal trauma admitted to the emergency department at Baquba Teaching Hospital from the period 1^st January, 2013 to 31^st December 2013 fast performed on all cases to detect any intra-abdominal collection, then correlation with this result and laparotomy or conservative results. 

Results: Out of 100 patients, Twenty seven cases had intra-abdominal collection and seventy three cases had no intra-abdominal collection by fast, 27 cases were positive and one case false positive and 73 cases were negative and 2 false-negative results and 71 true negative. The sensitivity was 92.8 % and specificity 98.6%. The positive predictive value was   96.2 % and negative predictive value 97.2 % and the accuracy 97 %.

Conclusion: Focused assessment sonography of trauma can detect intra-abdominal fluid accurately and rapidly, FAST potentially valuable tool for better assessment of trauma in the emergency department.