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Evaluation

Scientific Assembly

Breve Dulce

Session: Breve Dulce I

Not so E-FAST! Subtle Sonographic Signs That May Alter Your Trauma Management

Monday, April 7, 2025
5:00pm – 5:10pm ET
Location: Sandringham/Windsor - 2nd Level
CE: 0.25 CME Credit
Trauma Recorded Session
Disclosure(s):
Renato Rapada, DO: No financial relationships to disclose
This Breve Dulce session will review commonly missed signs of hemoperitoneum, hemothorax, hemopericardium, and pneumothorax that are crucial to identifying in unstable trauma patients. We will also cover common false positive results (false lung points, false hemoperitoneum), that have lead to incorrect utilization of resources . Will discuss limitations of exam, and address commonly made image acquisition mistakes that interfere with accurate image interpretation. Will propose additional uses of US during trauma, including pulse checks and cardiac activity exams prior to initiation of resuscitative thoracotomy.

Learning Objectives:

  • Demonstrate pearls of proper image acquisition of the Extended-Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (EFAST) windows in order to identify hemoperitoneum, hemothorax, pneumothorax, and hemoperitoneum.
  • Describe pitfalls of E-FAST exam, including common false positives, false negatives, and describe how to improve image interpretation.
  • Describe alternative uses for emergency ultrasound in trauma, including endotracheal tube placement, sonographic pulse check/cardiac activity assessment prior to resuscitative thoracotomy.