20/08/2026
What does a FAST scan actually assess?
The FAST examination - Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma - is a rapid bedside ultrasound assessment used in the evaluation of trauma patients.
It focuses on looking for free fluid in key areas:
πΉ Right upper quadrant β around the liver and right kidney
πΉ Left upper quadrant β around the spleen and left kidney
πΉ Pelvis β looking for free fluid in the pelvic cavity
πΉ Pericardium β assessing for pericardial fluid all correct
The extended FAST, or eFAST, adds assessment of the chest for pneumothorax and haemothorax.
One of the great strengths of POCUS is that it can be performed at the bedside and incorporated into the patient's clinical assessment in real time.
π‘ In the right clinical setting, even a small amount of free fluid can be an important finding - but a negative FAST doesn't exclude significant injury.