The initiation of an authoritative protocol for ultrasound for blunt trauma in an American urban level I trauma center

Despite continuing technological advances to diagnose trauma patients expediently and cost effectively, ultrasound represents an underutilized modality. We report herein the experience of an American urban level I trauma center's initiation of an authoritative protocol for the implementation and execution of a standardized focused abdominal sonogram for trauma (FAST). Four in-house attending trauma surgeons direct the comprehensive care of patients meeting field trauma triage criteria to justify transport to our trauma center. Two of the four surgeons have completed the American College of Surgeons Postgraduate Course in Ultrasound for Surgeons' and a formal case series of FAST exams with concurrent confirmatory tests. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all four surgeons for significant differences. We offer this review as proof that ultrasound is being responsibly implemented in effective clinical practice.