Читать книгу Point-of-Care Ultrasound Techniques for the Small Animal Practitioner - Группа авторов - Страница 274

In the authors’ experience, it is extremely valuable to perform an AFAST examination with assignment of an abdominal fluid score in either lateral recumbency for the best approach. The positioning of small animals in dorsal recumbency for POCUS abdominal organ exams can obscure small‐volume peritoneal effusion and underestimate the volume of effusion present because peritoneal effusion will flow into the less sonographically accessible diaphragmatic recesses. AFAST improves the diagnostic potential of the ultrasound exam by detecting peritoneal effusion. The early detection of abdominal effusion is clinically important and helps direct additional diagnostic recommendations while avoiding morbidity, complications, and patient mortality in the event the effusion is missed.

The Global FAST approach is used as a screening test to rapidly discriminate between localized and disseminated disease, comorbidities, and complications. Global FAST offers a rapid assessment to survey for pleural and pericardial effusion and cardiac and pulmonary abnormalities, including lung nodules, with minimal restraint upon initial patient triage.