Focused Assessment with Sonography and CT scan in Trauma (FAST) findings Post Blunt Belly Trauma in Emergency Room

Abstract

Background: Trauma remains a major public health concern worldwide, and its history is as old as humankind itself. Over the past two decades, computed tomography (CT) has become the reference standard for diagnosing traumatic injuries, including intra-abdominal trauma. However, the use of CT in trauma and emergency care has expanded far more rapidly than the evidence supporting its appropriate utilization. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (FAST) scan compared with CT scan findings in patients with blunt abdominal trauma (BAT), and to determine whether FAST influenced the clinical disposition of these patients. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was conducted from July 1, 2024, to May 1, 2025, in the Emergency Department. After applying exclusion criteria, a total of 100 patients presenting with blunt abdominal trauma were included. All patients underwent FAST examination followed by abdominal CT scanning, and results were compared. Results: The overall sensitivity of FAST for detecting intra-abdominal injury (IAI) was 94.34%, with a specificity of 78% and an overall diagnostic accuracy of 86.41%. However, the sensitivity of FAST decreased to 81.67% when detecting specific organ injuries. Conclusions: FAST is a valuable, rapid, and non-invasive initial diagnostic tool in the evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma; CT remains the gold standard. Abdominal CT scanning demonstrates higher sensitivity and specificity for intra-abdominal injury, enables precise localization of organ damage, and plays a crucial role in determining patient disposition and in-hospital management.