Dear Ultrasound Insider,
In multiple casualty incidents (MCIs), quick and appropriate triage is a necessity. And ultrasound can play a key role, according to researchers from Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, Israel.
During the recent Second Lebanon War, the Rambam group found that focused abdominal sonography for trauma (FAST) could successfully triage military and civilian casualties arriving at the trauma center with suspected abdominal injuries.
Based on FAST findings and hemodynamic stability, patients were prioritized for laparotomy, CT, or clinical observation, according to Dr. Nira Beck-Razi, who discussed her institution's experience during the 2007 American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine meeting in New York City. Overall, FAST exams performed on civilian and military casualties yielded a sensitivity of 75% and specificity of 97.6%.
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