the extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma (efast) in blunt trauma patients: a cross sectional study

introduction trauma is the most common cause of death in youngsters. early detection of internal bleeding via imaging in trauma patients is important. the fast-extended method and the extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma (efast) evaluates hemothorax and pneumothorax in addition to abdominopelvic bleedings and tamponade. patients and methods in this cross-sectional study, after baqiyatallah university ethics committee approval, 167 blunt trauma in three treatment centers were assessed as follows: baqiyatallah, haft-e tir, and imam hossein in 2014-2915, efast was accomplished in four standard spaces (considering free fluid) and thorax (considering hemothorax and pneumothorax). results were compared by the result of ct-scan as the gold standard test. demographic data, efast, and ct-scan results were analyzed by spss (ver18). results a total of 167 patients with a mean age of 38.39 ± 12.31 years were evaluated (129 male and 45 female patients). there was a significant correlation between gender and trauma mechanism (p < 0.05). sixty-one patients were referred because of accident. the mean iss was 29.65 ± 10.25. efast results from 125 patients were normal, 2 cases with hemothorax, 4 cases with pneumothorax, 18 cases had fluid in morison’s pouch, 13 cases had fluid in splenorenal regions and 11 cases had pelvic free fluid. ct-scan findings indicated the following: 133 patients were normal, 3 patients had hemothorax, 4 patients had pneumothorax, 31 patients had abdominopelvic free fluids, and 3 patients had retroperitoneal fluid; efast had a sensitivity of 66.7% and specificity of 100% in diagnosis of hemothorax, and sensitivity of 75% and specificity of 99.4% in diagnosis of pneumothorax. conclusion according to the results, efast was recognized as a suitable substitute for ct-scan in recognizing hemothorax, pneumothorax, and intra-abdominal free fluids. the ability efast for recognition and sensitivity is favorable.