AFAST

AFAST

Abdominal Focused Assessment in Trauma/Triage

Developed as a technique for quick assessment in emergent patients. Only novice ultrasound skills are necessary to begin utilizing this tool.

Procedure

Right lateral recumbency

Place probe in 4 areas and assess if free abdominal fluid is present or not. For each position, give a score of 1 or 0.

Positions are as follows:

DH view (Diaphragmatic/Hepatic view) Probe is placed with ultrasound marker ventral on left side of screen.

Organs to be identified:

Caudal lung margin - can evaluate for pulmonary edema,

Diaphragm Liver Gall bladder Peritoneal cavity Caudal vena cava Hepatic veins Thoracic cavity Pericardial sac Heart apex +/- chambers