LAUSR

Background The utility of the focused assessment with sonography in trauma (FAST) examination in hemodynamically stable pediatric blunt abdominal trauma (BAT) patients is controversial.We report our 3-year experience with FAST performance to detect greater than physiologic amounts of intraperitoneal fluid after BAT. Methods We performed a retrospective chart review of all FAST examinations performed from July 2015 to June 2018 at a level I pediatric trauma center. The main outcome of interest was the performance of a concerning FAST (cFAST) compared with a computed tomography scan diagnosis for greater than physiologic levels of free fluid (FF) and clinical follow-up. A cFAST was defined by the presence of any FF in the upper abdomen or by a moderate to large amount of FF present in the pelvis. The interobserver reliability of cFASTwas assessed with Cohen κ coefficient. Locations of FF were assessed. Results A total of 448 FAST cases were eligible for review. The median age was 11 years with 64% male. Thirty-one FAST examinations (6.9%) were positive for some amount of FF; 18 (4.0%) were cFASTs. In the cFAST group, 11 patients (61%) were hemodynamically stable. The cFAST had a sensitivity of 89% (95% confidence interval [CI], 65%–99%), specificity of 99% (95% CI, 98%–100%), positive predictive value of 89% (95% CI, 67%–97%), and negative predictive value of 99% (95% CI, 98%–100%). The positive and negative likelihood ratios were 191 (95% CI, 47–769) and 0.11 (95% CI, 0.03–0.41). The κ coefficient for cFASTwas 0.72 with 86% agreement. Free fluid on cFAST cases was observed in the pelvis (78%), right upper quadrant (44%), and left upper quadrant (44%). Conclusions In pediatric BAT patients, a cFAST has acceptable sensitivity and remains a highly specific test to rule in greater than physiologic quantities of FF with confidence.