Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 May 2015
Many published papers report excellent sensitivity, specificity and accuracy when non-radiologists employ ultrasound (U/S) to detect free intraperitoneal fluid in cases of blunt abdominal trauma (BAT). In this setting, it is best to view the FAST (focused abdominal sonogram in trauma) as a noninvasive diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL): It tells us whether there is free intraperitoneal fluid but does not determine the specific parenchymal injury. In other words it is a screening tool.