AFAST technique (Abdominal Focused Assessment Ultrasonography for Trauma)

The AFAST technique is used especially for the rapid detection of abdominal fluids. In this regard, it was supplemented by the “abdominal fluid score” (AFS) system at the time of examination and observation of the same patient four hours after the initial examination. If done properly, the AFAST technique allows an accurate identification of the presence of small amounts of abdominal fluids, unlike radiographic abdominal examination, where small amounts of fluid and serous details are rarely observed. In this way, an assessment of the patient’s condition can be made quickly and blood transfusion can be administered more quickly (when the abdominal fluid score is increased 4 hours after the initial examination). It is also possible to evaluate the integrity of the bladder during the initial examination and at four hours (during which the patient has also received fluid therapy). In general, it is considered that a bladder with more or less content is integral, although there have been cases where there were small cracks in the bladder wall, and the extravasation of the contents in the abdomen is done only in the case of large accumulations in the bladder.