A general practitioner's guide to FAST cageside ultrasound techniques

An overview of FAST (focused assessment with sonography for trauma, triage and tracking) is provided, including imaging techniques for both abdominal and thoracic FAST (AFAST and TFAST). This article serves as a practical guide for general and emergency room veterinary surgeons wanting to incorporate the ultrasound FAST scan into everyday practice. Indications for FAST scan, methodology and common pitfalls are reviewed, with the aim of making this diagnostic technique accessible to every practice with ultrasound capabilities. Rapid early detection of pneumothorax, and of peritoneal, pericardial and pleural effusions, allows for further appropriate patient-directed diagnostic evaluation and therapy.