Sonosim eFAST Module Questions

In a supine patient, the hepatorenal interface, or Morison's pouch, is one of the most dependent points within the peritoneal cavity.

True

T or F: the acronym "FAST" stands for "focused assessment with sonography in trauma"

True

T or F: The recto-uterine space is also referred to as the anterior cul-de-sac.

False

T or F: eFAST is more accurate than diagnostic peritoneal lavage for detecting intraperitoneal hemorrhage.

False

The right upper quadrant FAST view requires the ultrasound transducer to be held in a __________ plane.

Coronal

T or F: The FAST examination is more accurate than CT imaging for detecting retroperitoneal pathology.

False

T or F: The parasternal long cardiac view is always obtainable and is the preferred cardiac view.

False

Which of the following choices increases sensitivity of the FAST exam?

Completing pelvic imaging prior to Foley catheter insertion; placing the abdominal quadrant of interest in a dependent position; slowly fanning the transducer during window imaging to detect subtle pockets of free fluid; performing serial FAST exams at varying stages of a patient's resuscitation = all correct

The left upper quadrant FAST view requires the ultrasound transducer to be held in a __________ plane.

Coronal

T or F: A high-frequency linear transducer should always be used to perform an eFAST examination.

False

T or F: there is no benefit in repeating a FAST exam following initiation of resuscitation (e.g., within 10 minutes of the initial FAST exam), because it is rare to have new findings appear.

False

Which of the following statements regarding left upper quadrant FAST imaging is correct?

Fluid in the stomach can be mistaken for free intraperitoneal fluid; Stomach fluid is often anechoic; Stomach fluid is encapsulated and does not fill the splenorenal interspace = all correct

Which of the following choices may help obtain an optimal right upper quadrant view of the hepatorenal interface?

Hold the ultrasound transducer slightly inferior and anterior with respect to the position that was held for the left upper quadrant view; hold the ultrasound transducer in a coronal plane; avoid placing the transducer directly over ribs; when using an abdominal curved-array transducer, rotate the transducer slightly counterclockwise (5 to 10 degrees) from the coronal plane to position the transducer between ribs = all correct

What are the basic views for the FAST exam?

Left upper quadrant, right upper quadrant, cardiac, pelvic

Which of the following statements is correct regarding lung sonography performed during an eFAST exam?

The exam is started on the anterior chest in the second or third intercostal space; lung sliding excludes pneumothorax at that location; the probe should be positioned perpendicular to the chest wall between two adjacent ribs = all correct

When inspecting the thoracic cavity for a hemothorax, __________.

a hemothorax will appear hyperechoic if the blood is clotted; a hemothorax will appear anechoic if the hemorrhage is fresh; sensitivity can be increased if the patient is put in reverse Trendelenburg position; a small hemothorax may be difficult to distinguish from a sliver of intraperitoneal blood layering out under the diaphragm= all correct answers

The epicardial fat pad....

can be mistaken for a pericardial effusion, appears heteroechoic and moves with the heart = both correct

Which of the following choices may optimize the subxiphoid cardiac view?

ensure the pts bed is flat, use the liver as an acoustic window, hold the US transducer flat against, and often nearly parallel to the pts abdomen = all correct

When obtaining a parasternal long cardiac view, if the heart cannot be visualized, __________.

slide the transducer directly over a rib interspace; the patient may have subcutaneous emphysema, obscuring the view; ensure the transducer is not positioned over the sternum; attempt a subxiphoid view as an alternative = all correct

When obtaining a transverse pelvic view in the setting of trauma, if the bladder cannot be visualized, __________.

the bladder may be empty due to recent voiding; the bladder may be ruptured; overlying subcutaneous emphysema may be limiting visualization; . the transducer may be overlying the pubic symphysis = all correct answers