Principles of FAST

Question 1

What is FAST scan?

Answer 1

Focused assessment using sonography for trauma
- aimed at looking for free abdominal and thoracic fluid (AFAST and TFAST)
- can be used to assess pleural space disease and lung parenchymal disease

Question 2

What are the components of Global FAST (GFAST)?

Answer 2

Protocol to globally assess patients
VetBLUE + TFAST + AFAST

Question 3

What is VetBLUE?

Answer 3

Veterinary bedside lung ultrasound exam
- allows assessment of lung parenchyma and pleural space
- 4 point scan of both sides of the chest
Red X’s

Question 4

What is PLUS?

Answer 4

Pleural lung ultrasound
- sweep ‘S’ across lung fields
- 9 points on both sides of chest
Blue line

Question 5

What is TFAST?

Answer 5

Thoracic focused assessment using sonography
- for trauma, tracking and triage
- allows assessment of pericardial effusion, cardiac chambers and contractility
- 5 point scan

Question 6

What is AFAST?

Answer 6

Abdominal focused assessment using sonography
- for trauma, tracking and triage
- allows for assessment of free fluid in the abdomen including production of abdominal fluid score
- allows for assessment of caudal vena cava and gall bladder
- 4 point scan (patient in RLR)

Question 7

What is FLASH?

Answer 7

Fast localised abdominal sonography of horses:
- allows for assessment of abdominal and thoracic free fluid
- allows for assessment of small intestinal loops
- 7 point scan