This document discusses the use of emergency ultrasound in trauma patients. It presents a clinical case of a 62-year-old male who slipped on ice and experienced pain in his lower chest. Bedside ultrasound revealed a liver laceration and 500cc of blood in the peritoneal cavity. The document then reviews diagnostic modalities for blunt abdominal trauma such as diagnostic peritoneal lavage, CT scan, and focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST). It provides details on performing and interpreting the FAST exam, including views of the right upper quadrant, left upper quadrant, and pelvis. The document concludes with a discussion of using ultrasound to detect occult penetrating cardiac trauma.
2. Clinical CaseClinical Case
GR is a 62 y male who hit his right torso
when he slipped on an icy sidewalk. He
denies head trauma, and can walk
without a limp. Two hours later the pain
in his lower chest has increased he
comes to the ED.
3. Clinical CaseClinical Case
PE: BP116/72, pulse109, RR 24.
There is a minor abrasion to right lateral
chest, which is tender to palpation.
Diffuse mild abdominal tenderness.
Meds: Coumadin for irregular heartbeat
4. Clinical CaseClinical Case
2 large IV’s placed,
CXR done. Blood
tests sent.
Bedside ultrasound
done.
CXR revealed lower
rib fractures, no HTX
or PTX
5. Clinical CaseClinical Case
FFP ordered and OR notified.
He is found to have a liver laceration
and 500 cc of blood in the peritoneal
cavity.
6. Diagnostic Modalities in BluntDiagnostic Modalities in Blunt
Abdominal TraumaAbdominal Trauma
Diagnostic Peritoneal Lavage (DPL)
CAT Scan
Ultrasound (FAST exam)
7. Diagnostic Peritoneal LavageDiagnostic Peritoneal Lavage
Advantages
– Very sensitive for
identifying intra-
peritoneal blood
– 106
RBC/mm3
approx.
20 ml blood in 1L
lavage fluid
– Can be done at the
bedside
– Can be done in 10-15
minutes
Disadvantages
– Overly sensitive, may
result in too high a
laparotomy rate
– Invasive
– Difficult in pregnancy,
or with many prior
surgeries
– Can not be repeated
8. CT ScanCT Scan
Advantages
– Identifies specific
injuries
– Good for hollow viscus
and retroperitoneal
injury
– High sensitivity and
specificity
Disadvantages
– Expensive equipment
– 30-60 minutes to
complete study
– Only for stable
patients
– Not for pregnant
patients
10. FASTFAST
Advantages
– Can be performed in 5
minutes at the bedside
– Non-invasive
– Repeat exams
– Sensitivity and
specificity for free
fluid equal to DPL and
CT
Disadvantages
– Operator dependent
– May not identify
specific injury
– Poor for hollow viscus
or retroperitoneal
injury
– Obesity, subcutaneous
air may interfere with
exam
11. FAST PrinciplesFAST Principles
Detects free
intraperitoneal fluid
Blood/fluid pools in
dependent areas
Pelvis
– Most dependent
Hepatorenal fossa
– Most dependent area in
supramesocolic region
12. FAST PrinciplesFAST Principles
Pelvis and Supra-
mesocolic areas
communicate
– Phrenicolic ligament
prevents flow
Liver/spleen injury
– Represents 2/3 of cases of
blunt abdominal trauma
14. FAST – limitationsFAST – limitations
US relatively insensitive for detecting
traumatic abdominal organ injury
Fluid may pool at variable rates
– Minimum volume for US detection
– Multiple views at multiple sites
– Serial exams: repeat exam if there is a change
in clinical picture
Operator dependent
15. Evidence supporting use ofEvidence supporting use of
FASTFAST
Multiple studies in USA by EM and trauma
surgeons
Studies from Europe and Japan
Policy statements by specialty organizations
16. Emergency department ultrasound in the
evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma.
Jehle, D., et al, Am J Emerg Med, 1993
– Single view of Morison’s pouch in 44 patients
– Performed by physicians after 2 weeks training
– US compared to DPL and laparotomy
– Sensitivity 81.8%
– Specificity 93.9%
17. Trauma surgical studyTrauma surgical study
A prospective study of surgeon-
performed ultrasound as the primary
adjuvant modality of injured patient
assessment. 1994 Rozycki et al.
N=358 patients
Outcomes used: US detection of
hemoperitoneum/pericardial effusion
18. ResultsResults
53/358 (15%) patients w/ free fluid on
“gold standard”
All patients: Sens 81.5%, spec 99.7%
Blunt trauma: Sens 78.6%, spec 100%
PPV 98.1%, NPV 96.2%
Overall accuracy was 96.5% for detection
of hemoperitoneum or pericardium
19. Trauma StudyTrauma Study
Rozycki G, et al 1998 Surgeon-performed
ultrasound for the assessment of truncal
injuries. Lessons learned from 1540 patients
FAST exam on patients with precordial or
transthoracic wounds or blunt abdominal
trauma
20. Protocol:
+ Pericardial fluid OR
Stable CT
+IP fluid
Unstable OR
Results
– N= 1540 pts, 80/1540 (5%) with FF
– Overall: Sens 83.3%, Spec 99.7%
– PPV 95%, NPV 99%
– Precordial/Transthor : Sens 100%, Spec 99.3%
– Hypotensive BAT: Sens 100%, Spec 100%
21. FAST – Specialty SocietiesFAST – Specialty Societies
Established clinical role in Europe, Australia,
Japan, Israel
German Surgical Society requires candidates’
proficiency in ultrasound
United States
– US in ATLS
– US policies by frontline specialties
American College of Surgeons
ACEP,SAEM & AAEM
23. EquipmentEquipment
Curved array
Various “footprints”
– Small footprint for thorax
– Large for abdomen
Variable frequencies
– 5.0 MHz: thin, child
– 3.5 MHz: versatile
– 2.0 MHz: cardiac, large
pts
24. Time to Complete ScanTime to Complete Scan
Each view: 30-60 seconds
Number of views dependent on clinical
question and findings on initial views
Total exam time usually < 3-5 minutes
1988 Armenian earthquake
– 400 trauma US scans in 72 hrs
25. Focused Abdominal SonographyFocused Abdominal Sonography
for Trauma (FAST)for Trauma (FAST)
Consists of 4 views
– Subxiphoid
– Right Upper
Quadrant
– Left Upper
Quadrant
– Pouch of Douglas
26. FASTFAST
Increased sensitivity with
increased number of views
Will identify pleural
effusions
Reliably detects as little as
50-100cc in the thorax
Sensitivity >96%,
specificity 99-100%
27. Clinical experience with FASTClinical experience with FAST
Intraperitoneal fluid
– Sensitivity 82-98%, specificity 88-100%
Morison’s pouch alone 36-82% sensitivity
Increased sensitivity with
– Increasing number of views
– Trendelenberg
– Serial examinations
Can detect as little as 250cc of free fluid
28. Clinical ExperienceClinical Experience
Solid organ disruption
– 40% sensitivity for all organs
– 33-94% for splenic injury
Hollow viscus injury
– Sensitivity 57%
Retroperitoneal injury
– Sensitivity for identification of hemorrhage
<60%
29. RUQRUQ
Probe at right thoraco-
abdominal junction
Liver : large acoustic
window
Probe marker cephalad
Rib interference?
– Rotate 30°
counterclockwise
30. Scan PlaneScan Plane
Same image if probe
positioned
– Anterior
– Mid axillary
– Posterior
31. RUQRUQ
Image on screen:
– Liver cephalad
– Kidney inferiorly
– Morison’s Pouch*:
space between
Glisson’s capsule and
Gerota’s fascia
*
*
*
*
32. Normal RUQNormal RUQ
Image kidney
– Longitudinally
– Transversely
Two toned structure
– Cortex/medulla
– Renal sinus
33. Appearance of bloodAppearance of blood
Fresh blood
– Anechoic (black)
Coagulating blood
– First hypoechoic
– Later hyperechoic
41. Branney, S.W. et al: Quantitative sensitivity of
ultrasound in detecting free intraperitoneal
fluid J Trauma:1995: 39
Peritoneal lavage fluid infused in 100 patients
Simultaneous scan of Morison’s pouch
– By physicians ( Surgery,EM, Radiology)
– Blinded to volume and rate of infusion
– Mean volume of detection: 619cc
– Sensitivity at 1 liter: 97%
– 10% physicians detected less than 400cc
42. Caveat to Branney study:
– Artificial condition: infused fluid
– Fluid in Morison’s after pelvis overflow
Tiling et al :
– 200 -250ml detected by US
– Collection >0.5cm suggests over 500ml
Transvaginal/rectal
– 15ml of free intraperitoneal fluid
Volume Assessment by US
43. Detection of Fluid byDetection of Fluid by
UltrasoundUltrasound
Affected by
positioning
Location of bleed
Rate of bleeding
Operator Experience
Value of sensitivity of
Ultrasound:
– Detects clinically
injuries
– Non-detection of fluid
May indicate self-
limited bleeding
44. All Fluid is not BloodAll Fluid is not Blood
Ascites
Ruptured Ovarian Cyst
Lavage fluid
Urine from ruptured bladder
45. Mimics of Fluid in RUQMimics of Fluid in RUQ
Perinephric fat
– May be hypoechoic like blood
– Usually evenly layered along kidney
– If in doubt, compare to left kidney
Abdominal inflammation
– Widened extra-renal space
– Echogenicity of kidney becomes more like the
liver parenchyma
46. PitfallsPitfalls
RUQ
– Not attempting multiple probe placements
– Not placing the probe cephalad enough to use the
acoustic window of the liver
Scanning too soon before enough blood has
accumulated
Not repeating the scan
47. LUQLUQ
Probe at left posterior
axillary line
Near ribs 9 and 10
Angle probe obliquely
(avoid ribs)
48. LUQ Scan PlaneLUQ Scan Plane
More difficult
– Acoustic window
(spleen) is smaller than
liver
– Mild inspiration will
optimize image
– Bowel interference is
common
59. Ma O John, Mateer J, Trauma Ultrasound
Examination Versus Chest Radiography in the
Detection of Hemothorax
Ann Emerg Med: March 1997
240 trauma US study patients
26 had hemothorax ( CT or chest tube)
CXR and US
– 0 false positive
– 1 false negative
– 25 true positive
– 214 true negative
60. Pelvic ViewPelvic View
Probe should be
placed in the
suprapubic position
Either can be
transverse or
longitudinal
Helpful to image
before placement of
a Foley catheter
64. Pelvic View – SagittalPelvic View – Sagittal
Fluid in front of the
bladder
If bladder is empty
or Foley already
placed:
Trick of trade
– IV bag on abdomen
– Scan through bag
clot bladder
70. Ultrasound in the Detection of Injury
From Blunt or Penetrating Thoracic
Trauma
71. Penetrating ThoracicPenetrating Thoracic
InjuryInjury
Clinical challenge
– Where is the penetration?
– What was the weapon?
– What was the trajectory?
– What organ(s) have been injured?
– Improved outcomes in patients with normal or
near-normal vital signs
73. Clinical CaseClinical Case
QD is 37 year old male brought in by EMS
for ingesting entire bottle of unidentified
red and white pills. In the ambulance bay he
pulls out a knife and stabs himself in the left
nipple.
74. Clinical CaseClinical Case
Initial BP 116/72, pulse 109 RR 24. IV’s
placed.
No JVD, Clear breath sounds, non tender
abdomen
As CXR is about to be done, pulse increases
to 134.
Bedside ultrasound is done while cartridge
is developed.
86. Occult Penetrating CardiacOccult Penetrating Cardiac
TraumaTrauma
Observation unreliable
Subxiphoid window
– Invasive
– 100% sensitive, 92% specific
– Negative exploration rates (as high as 80%)
Ultrasound reliable indicator of even small
pericardial effusion
87. Trauma StudyTrauma Study
The role of ultrasound in patients with
possible penetrating cardiac wounds: a
prospective multicenter study.
Rozycki GS: J Trauma. 1999
Pericardial scans performed in 261 patients
Sensitivity 100%, specificity 96.9%
PPV: 81% NPV:100%
Time interval BUS to OR: 12.1 +/- 5.9 min
88. Avoid PitfallsAvoid Pitfalls
Normal echo does not definitively rule out
major pericardial injury
Repeat echo with ∆ clinical picture
Epicardial fat pad may easily be
misinterpreted as “clot”
Hemothorax may be confused with
pericardial effusion
89. Blunt Cardiac TraumaBlunt Cardiac Trauma
Basic Assessments
– Pericardial effusion
– Assess for wall motion
abnormality
– RV:
closest to anterior chest
wall
Most likely to be
injured
Advanced
Assessments
– Assess thoracic aorta –
may need TEE to see
all of thoracic aorta
Hematoma
Intimal flap
Abnormal contour
– Valvular dysfunction
or septal rupture
90. Blunt cardiac traumaBlunt cardiac trauma
Injuries difficult to assess by FAST
– Valvular incompetence
– Myocardial rupture
– Intracardiac thrombosis
– Ventricular aneurysm
– Coronary Thrombosis
– Intra-cardiac Thrombosis
91. “ The most important preoperative objective in
the management of the patient with trauma is
to ascertain whether or not laparotomy is
needed, and not the diagnosis of a specific
organ injury”