Focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) is used as a screening tool to detect hemoperitoneum in patients with blunt abdominal injuries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of FAST performed by third year surgical residents.
Patients and method: Data were collected prospectively in one hundred and twenty-nine blunt abdominal trauma patients admitted to King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital from November 2000-November 2002. FAST was used by third year surgical residents to detect intraperitoneal fluid and considered positive if such fluid was identified. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test.
Results: Of the 129 patients, there were 31 female (24%) and 98 male (76%) patients, with the mean age of 34 years. The mean Injury Severity Score was 13.2. 53 patients had proven intraabdominal injuries and 76 had no injuries. FAST was positive in 28 patients and negative in 101 patients. There were 3 false positive FAST. The sensitivity and specificity of FAST were 47.17 per cent and 96.05 per cent, respectively. The positive predictive value was 89.29 per cent, the negative predictive value was 72.28 per cent and the accuracy was 81.59 per cent.
Conclusion: FAST performed by third year surgical residents for blunt abdominal trauma had high specificity to detect hemoperitoneum. A positive FAST is a strong predictor of significant intraabdominal injury. The need for more practices to improve sensitivity is recommended.