FAST Enhances Physical Exam in Identifying Intra-abdominal Injuries in Children

A single-center randomized trial in 2017 showed that focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) examinations did not improve injury detection or resource utilization in children with blunt trauma (NEJM JW Emerg Med Aug 2017 and JAMA 2017; 317:2290). In a new retrospective chart review, researchers assessed the association of FAST with identification of intra-abdominal injury (IAI) at their pediatric trauma center. They used results of physical examination, FAST, laboratory testing, and imaging to determine whether there was an IAI and whether it required intervention (blood transfusion, surgery, embolization, or need for intravenous fluids for more than 2 nights).

From 2013 to 2015, 1079 children (age <18 years) with blunt torso tr…