Contribution of age and gender to outcome of blunt splenic injury in adults: multicenter study of the eastern association for the surgery of trauma.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine the contribution of age and gender to outcome after treatment of blunt splenic injury in adults. METHODS: Through the Multi-Institutional Trials Committee of the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma (EAST), 1488 adult patients from 27 trauma centers who suffered blunt splenic injury in 1997 were examined retrospectively. RESULTS: Fifteen percent of patients were 55 years of age or older. A similar proportion of patients > or = 55 went directly to the operating room compared with patients < 55 (41% vs. 38%) but the mortality for patients > or = 55 was significantly greater than patients < 55 (43% vs. 23%). Patients > or = 55 failed nonoperative management (NOM) more frequently than patients < 55 (19% vs. 10%) and had increased mortality for both successful NOM (8% vs. 4%, p < 0.05) and failed NOM (29% vs. 12%, p = 0.054). There were no differences in immediate operative treatment, successful NOM, and failed NOM between men and women. However, women > or = 55 failed NOM more frequently than women < 55 (20% vs. 7%) and this was associated with increased mortality (36% vs. 5%) (both p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients > or = 55 had a greater mortality for all forms of treatment of their blunt splenic injury and failed NOM more frequently than patients < 55. Women > or = 55 had significantly greater mortality and failure of NOM than women < 55.

Traumatic renal artery dissection identified with dynamic helical computed tomography.

Intimal tears in the renal arteries typically result from traumatic mechanisms that produce rapid deceleration. These injuries usually progress to secondary thrombosis of the vessel. When the tear leads to dissection with luminal stenosis, early diagnosis and repair will preserve parenchymal function. Computed tomography has replaced intravenous pyelography as the radiographic study of choice for renal trauma. We present two patients with unilateral delay of renal contrast enhancement during dynamic helical computed tomography scan due to arterial stenosis from intimal dissection confirmed with arteriography. Both vessel injuries were successfully managed with endovascular stent placement. No previous description of this diagnostic strategy is reported in the literature.

A multicenter evaluation of whether gender dimorphism affects survival after trauma.

BACKGROUND: The frequency of women who have sustained severe injuries has increased over the past 30 years. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether severely injured women have a survival advantage over men. To address this issue, we undertook a multicenter evaluation of the effects of gender dimorphism on survival in trauma patients. METHODS: Patient information was collected from the databases of three level I trauma centers. We included all consecutive patients who were admitted to these centers over a 4-year period. We evaluated the effects of age, gender, mechanism of injury, pattern of injury, Abbreviated Injury Score (AIS), and Injury Severity Score (ISS) on survival. RESULTS: A total of 20,261 patients were admitted to the three trauma centers. Women who were younger than 50 years of age (mortality rate 5%) experienced a survival advantage over men (mortality rate 7%) of equal age (odds ratio 1.27, P <0.002). This advantage was most notably found in the more severely injured (ISS >25) group (mortality rate 28% in women versus 33% in men). This difference was not attributable to mechanism of injury, severity of injury, or pattern of injury. CONCLUSIONS: Severely injured women younger than 50 years of age have a survival advantage when compared with men of equal age and injury severity. Young men have a 27% greater chance of dying than women after trauma. We conclude that gender dimorphism affects the survival of patients after trauma.

Adrenergic blockade reduces skeletal muscle glycolysis and Na(+), K(+)-ATPase activity during hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Recent evidence suggests that hyperlactatemia in shock may reflect accelerated aerobic glycolysis linked to activity of the Na(+), K(+)-ATPase rather than hypoxia. Epinephrine stimulates glycolysis in resting muscle largely by stimulating Na(+), K(+)-ATPase activity. This study evaluates the effects of hemorrhagic shock, with and without combined alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptor blockade, on lactate production, glycogenolysis, Na(+)-K(+) pump activity, and high-energy phosphates in rat skeletal muscle. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats in four treatment groups were studied: unhemorrhaged control not receiving blockers (CN), controls receiving blockers (CB), shocked animals not receiving blockers (SN), and shocked rats receiving blockers (SB). Shocked rats (SN and SB) were bled to a MAP of 40 mm Hg, maintained for 60 min. Blocker groups (CB and SB) received propranolol and phenoxybenzamine. Arterial blood was drawn for plasma lactate, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and gas analysis. Lactate, glycogen, glucose 6-phosphate, ATP, phosphocreatine, and intracellular Na(+) and K(+) were determined in extensor digitorum longus and soleus muscles. For comparison, muscles were exposed to epinephrine and/or ouabain in vitro. RESULTS: With the exception of P(a)CO(2), HCO(3), and base excess in the SN group, no significant differences in arterial blood gas parameters were noted. Adrenergic blockade significantly reduced plasma lactate concentration. In shocked rats, adrenergic blockade significantly reduced muscle lactate and glucose 6-phosphate accumulation. Intracellular Na(+):K(+) ratio was decreased in SN rats, implying increased Na(+)-K(+) pump activity. Adrenergic blockade raised the intracellular Na(+):K(+) ratio in shocked animals, implying decreased pump activity. Epinephrine exposure in vitro stimulated muscle lactate production, raised glucose 6-phosphate content, and significantly reduced soleus phosphocreatine stores. CONCLUSIONS: Neither hypoxia nor defective oxidative metabolism appeared responsible for increased glycolysis during hemorrhagic shock. Adrenergic blockade concurrently reduced plasma lactate, muscle levels of lactate and glucose 6-phosphate, and muscle Na(+)-K(+) pump activity during shock. Rapid skeletal muscle aerobic glycolysis in response to increased plasma epinephrine levels may be an important contributor to increased glycolysis in muscle and increased plasma lactate during hemorrhagic shock.

The acute effects of body position strategies and respiratory therapy in paralyzed patients with acute lung injury.

BACKGROUND: Routine turning of critically ill patients is a standard of care. In recent years, specialized beds that provide automated turning have been introduced. These beds have been reported to improve lung function, reduce hospital-acquired pneumonia, and facilitate secretion removal. This trial was designed to measure the physiological effects of routine turning and respiratory therapy in comparison with continuous lateral rotation (CLR). METHODS: The study was a prospective, quasi-experimental, random assignment, trial with patients serving as their own controls. Paralyzed, sedated patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome were eligible for study. Patients were randomized to receive four turning and secretion management regimens in random sequence for 6 h each over a period of 24 h: (1) routine turning every 2 h from the left to right lateral position; (2) routine turning every 2 h from the left to right lateral position including a 15-min period of manual percussion and postural drainage (P&PD); (3) CLR with a specialized bed that turned patients from left to right lateral position, pausing at each position for 2 min; and (4) CLR with a specialized bed that turned patients from left to right lateral position pausing at each position for 2 min, and a 15-min period of percussion provided by the pneumatic cushions of the bed every 2 h. RESULTS: Nineteen patients were entered into the study. There were no statistically significant differences in the measured cardiorespiratory variables. There was a tendency for the ratio of partial pressure of arterial oxygen to fractional inspired oxygen concentration (PaO2/FIO2) to increase (174 +/- 31 versus 188 +/- 36; P = 0.068) and for the ratio of deadspace to tidal volume (Vd/Vt) to decrease (0.62 +/- 0.18 versus 0.59 +/- 0.18; P = 0.19) during periods of CLR, but these differences did not achieve statistical significance. There were statistically significant increases in sputum volume during the periods of CLR. The addition of P&PD did not increase sputum volume for the group as a whole. However, in the four patients producing more than 40 ml of sputum per day, P&PD increased sputum volume significantly. The number of patient turns increased from one every 2 h to one every 10 min during CLR. CONCLUSION: The acute effects of CLR are undoubtedly different in other patient populations (spinal cord injury and unilateral lung injury). The link between acute physiological changes and improved outcomes associated with CLR remain to be determined.

Prone positioning and inhaled nitric oxide: synergistic therapies for acute respiratory distress syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Inhaled nitric oxide (INO) and prone positioning have both been advocated as methods to improve oxygenation in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This study was designed to evaluate the relative contributions of INO and prone positioning alone and in combination on gas exchange in trauma patients with ARDS. METHODS: Sixteen patients meeting the consensus definition of ARDS were studied. Patients received mechanical ventilation in the supine position, mechanical ventilation plus INO at 1 part per million in the supine position, mechanical ventilation in the PP, and mechanical ventilation in the prone positioning plus INO at 1 part per million. A stabilization period of 1 hour was allowed at each condition. After stabilization,hemodynamic and gas exchange variables were measured. RESULTS: INO and prone positioning both increased PaO2/FIO2 compared with ventilation in the supine position. PaO2/FIO2 increased by 14% during use of INO, and 10 of 16 patients (62%) responded to INO in the supine position. PaO2/FIO2 increased by 33%, and 14 of 16 patients (87.5%) responded to the prone position. The combination of INO and prone positioning resulted in an improvement in PaO2/FIO2 in 15 of 16 patients(94%), with a mean increase in PaO2/FIO2 of 59%. Pulmonary vascular resistance was reduced during use of INO, with a greater reduction in pulmonary vascular resistance seen with INO plus prone positioning (175 +/- 36 dynes x s/cm5 vs. 134 +/- 28 dynes x s/cm5) compared with INO in the supine position (164 +/- 48 dynes x s/cm5 vs.138 +/- 44 dynes x s/cm5). There were no significant hemodynamic effects of INO or prone positioning and no complications were seen during this relative short duration of study. CONCLUSIONS: INO and prone positioning can contribute to improved oxygenation in patients with ARDS. The two therapies in combination are synergistic and may be important adjuncts to mechanical ventilation in the ARDS patient with refractory hypoxemia.

The risk assessment profile score identifies trauma patients at risk for deep vein thrombosis.

BACKGROUND: The identification of trauma patients at risk for the development of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) at the time of admission remains difficult. The purpose of this study is to validate the risk assessment profile (RAP) score to stratify patients for DVT prophylaxis. METHODS: All patients admitted from November 1998 thru May 1999 were evaluated for enrollment. We prospectively assigned patients as low risk or high risk for DVT using the RAP score. High-risk patients received both pharmacologic and mechanical prophylaxis. Low-risk patients received none. Surveillance duplex Doppler scans were performed each week of hospitalization or if symptoms developed. Hospital charges for prophylaxis were used to determine the savings in the low-risk group. Statistical differences between the risk groups for each factor of the RAP and development of DVT were determined by the chi-squared test, with significance at a probability value of less than .05. RESULTS: There were 102 high-risk (64%) and 58 low-risk (36%) individuals studied. Eleven of the high-risk group (10.8%) experienced the development of DVT (asymptomatic, 64%). None of the low-risk group was diagnosed with DVT. Five of the 16 RAP factors were statistically significant for DVT. Eliminating prophylaxis and Doppler scans in low-risk patients resulted in a total savings of $18,908 in hospital charges. CONCLUSIONS: The RAP score correctly identified trauma patients at increased risk for the development of DVT. Despite prophylaxis, the high-risk group warrants surveillance scans. Withholding prophylaxis in low-risk patients can reduce hospital charges without risk.

Dynamic helical computed tomography scan accurately detects hemorrhage in patients with pelvic fracture.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of dynamic helical computed tomography (CT) scan for screening patients with pelvic fractures and hemorrhage requiring angiographic embolization for control of bleeding. METHODS: Patients admitted to the trauma service with pelvic fractures were identified from the trauma registry. Data retrieval included demographics, hemodynamic instability, Injury Severity Score, blood transfusion requirement, length of stay, and mortality. CT scans obtained during the initial evaluation were reviewed for the presence of contrast extravasation and correlated with angiographic findings. Data are reported as mean +/- SEM, with P<.05 considered significant. RESULTS: Seven thousand seven hundred eighty-one patients were admitted from June 1994 to May 1999. A pelvic fracture was diagnosed in 660 (8.5%). Two hundred ninety (44.0%) dynamic helical CT scans were performed, of which 13 (4.5%) identified contrast extravasation. Nine (69%) were hemodynamically unstable and had pelvic arteriography performed. Arterial bleeding was confirmed in all and controlled by embolization. Patients with contrast extravasation had significantly greater Injury Severity Score, blood transfusion requirement and length of stay. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of CT scan for identifying patients requiring embolization were 90.0%, 98.6%, and 98.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Early use of dynamic helical CT scanning in the multiply injured patient with a pelvic fracture accurately identifies the need for emergent angiographic embolization.

Prone positioning for acute respiratory distress syndrome in the surgical intensive care unit: who, when, and how long?

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the effects of prone positioning (PP) on surgery and trauma patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). METHODS: Patients with ARDS were studied. Exclusion criteria were contraindications to PP. Patients were evaluated in the supine position and after being turned to the PP. After 6 hours, patients were returned to the supine position for 3 hours. One hour after each position change, arterial and mixed venous blood was drawn and analyzed for blood gases and pH, and hemodynamics were measured. RESULTS: Over 20 months, 27 patients met the criteria, and 20 of the patients were entered into the study. On day 1, 18 of 20 patients (90%) responded with an increase in PaO(2) during PP. On day 2, 16 of 17 patients (94%) responded; on day 3, 15 of 16 patients responded (94%); on day 4, 11 of 13 patients responded (85%); on day 5, 8 of 8 patients responded (100%); and on day 6, 4 of 5 patients responded (80%). Pao(2)/Fio(2) and Qs/Qt were significantly improved (P<.05) during PP. There were 91 periods of PP, lasting 10.3+/-1.2 hours. Of 91 changes to PP, 78 changes (86%) resulted in an improvement in Pao(2)/Fio(2) of more than 20%. CONCLUSIONS: PP improves oxygenation in ARDS for 6 days with few complications.

Blunt splenic injury in adults: Multi-institutional Study of the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma.

BACKGROUND: Nonoperative management of blunt injury to the spleen in adults has been applied with increasing frequency. However, the criteria for nonoperative management are controversial. The purpose of this multi-institutional study was to determine which factors predict successful observation of blunt splenic injury in adults. METHODS: A total of 1,488 adults (>15 years of age) with blunt splenic injury from 27 trauma centers in 1997 were studied through the Multi-institutional Trials Committee of the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma. Statistical analysis was performed with analysis of variance and extended chi2 test. Data are expressed as mean +/- SD; a value of p < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: A total of 38.5 % of patients went directly to the operating room (group I); 61.5% of patients were admitted with planned nonoperative management. Of the patients admitted with planned observation, 10.8% failed and required laparotomy; 82.1% of patients with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) < 15 and 46.6% of patients with ISS > 15 were successfully observed. Frequency of immediate operation correlated with American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) grades of splenic injury: I (23.9%), II (22.4%), III (38.1%), IV (73.7%), and V (94.9%) (p < 0.05). Of patients initially managed nonoperatively, the failure rate increased significantly by AAST grade of splenic injury: I (4.8%), II (9.5%), III (19.6%), IV (33.3%), and V (75.0%) (p < 0.05). A total of 60.9% of the patients failed nonoperative management within 24 hours of admission; 8% failed 9 days or later after injury. Laparotomy was ultimately performed in 19.9% of patients with small hemoperitoneum, 49.4% of patients with moderate hemoperitoneum, and 72.6% of patients with large hemoperitoneum. CONCLUSION: In this multicenter study, 38.5% of adults with blunt splenic injury went directly to laparotomy. Ultimately, 54.8% of patients were successfully managed nonoperatively; the failure rate of planned observation was 10.8%, with 60.9% of failures occurring in the first 24 hours. Successful nonoperative management was associated with higher blood pressure and hematocrit, and less severe injury based on ISS, Glasgow Coma Scale, grade of splenic injury, and quantity of hemoperitoneum.

Effects of body temperature on accuracy of continuous cardiac output measurements.

Intermittent measurement of cardiac output is routine in the critically ill surgical patient. A new catheter allows real-time continuous measurement of cardiac output. This study evaluated the impact of body temperature variation on the accuracy of these measurements compared to standard intermittent bolus thermodilution technique. This prospective study in a university hospital surgical intensive care unit included 20 consecutive trauma patients. Data were collected with pulmonary artery catheters, which allowed both continuous (COC) and bolus (COB) thermodilution measurements. The catheter was placed through either the subclavian or internal jugular vein. Measurements for COB were performed using a bolus (10 cm3) of ice-cold saline with a closed-injectate delivery system at end-expiration. Computer-generated curves were created on a bedside monitor, and the average of three measurements within 10% of one another was used as COB. COC was determined as the average of the displayed CO before and after thermodilution CO measurements. Body temperature was measured from the pulmonary artery catheter and was grouped as < or =36.5 degrees C, 36.6-38.4 degrees C, and > or =38.5 degrees C. COB and COC were compared for agreement by plotting the mean of the differences (COB - COC) between the methods. The differences were plotted against the average of each pair and analyzed with linear regression. One hundred seventy-eight paired measurements were made over a period of 1 to 3 days. CO ranged from 3.7 to 15.5 L/min. Eighty-one percent of measurements were at a temperature of 36.5-38.4 degrees C. Approximately 7% of measurements were at a temperature below 36.5 degrees C and 11.2% were in patients with a core temperature above 38.5 degrees C. Correlation between the two techniques was 0.96, 0.91, and 0.82 for temperatures of < or =36.5 degrees C, 36.6-38.4 degrees C, and > or = 38.5 degrees C, respectively. In conclusion, the COC measurements correlate well with COB in trauma patients with a core temperature < or =38.5 degrees C. The accuracy degraded at higher temperatures, which may be related to the smaller signal-to-noise ratio at elevated body temperatures.

Prolonged use of heat and moisture exchangers does not affect device efficiency or frequency rate of nosocomial pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether use of a single heat and moisture exchanger (HME) for < or =120 hrs affects efficiency, resistance, level of bacterial colonization, frequency rate of nosocomial pneumonia, and cost compared with changing the HME every 24 hrs. DESIGN: Prospective, controlled, randomized, unblinded study. SETTING: Surgical intensive care unit at a university teaching hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 220 consecutive patients requiring mechanical ventilation for >48 hrs. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized to one of three groups: a) hygroscopic HME (Aqua+) changed every 24 hrs (HHME-24); b) hydrophobic HME (Duration HME) changed every 120 hrs (HME-120); and c) hygroscopic HME (Aqua+) changed every 120 hrs (HHME-120). Devices in all groups could be changed at the discretion of the staff when signs of occlusion or increased resistance were identified. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Daily measurements of inspired gas temperature, inspired relative humidity, and device resistance were made. Additionally, daily cultures of the patient side of the device were accomplished. The frequency rate of nosocomial pneumonia was made by using clinical criteria. Ventilatory support variables, airway care, device costs, and clinical indicators of humidification efficiency (sputum volume, sputum efficiency) were also recorded. Prolonged use of both hygroscopic and hydrophobic devices did not diminish efficiency or increase resistance. There was no difference in the number of colony-forming units from device cultures over the 5-day period and no difference between colony-forming units in devices changed every 24 hrs compared with devices changed after 120 hrs. The average duration of use was 23+/-4 hrs in the HHME-24 group, 73+/-13 hrs in the HME-120 group, and 74+/-9 hrs in the HHME-120 group. Mean absolute humidity was greater for the hygroscopic devices (30.4+/-1.1 mg of H2O/L) compared with the hydrophobic devices (27.8+/-1.3 mg of H2O/L). The frequency rate of nosocomial pneumonia was 8% (8:100) in the HHME-24 group, 8.3% (5:60) in the HME-120 group, and 6.6% (4:60) in the HHME-120 group. Pneumonia rates per 1000 ventilatory support days were 20:1000 in the HHME-24 group, 20.8:1000 in the HME-120 group, and 16.6:1000 in the HHME-120 group. Costs per day were $3.24 for the HHME-24 group, $2.98 for the HME-120 group, and $1.65 for the HHME-120 group. CONCLUSIONS: Changing the hydrophobic or hygroscopic HME after 3 days does not diminish efficiency, increase resistance, or alter bacterial colonization. The frequency rate of nosocomial pneumonia was also unchanged. Use of HMEs for >24 hrs, up to 72 hrs, is safe and cost effective.

Positive end-expiratory pressure and response to inhaled nitric oxide: changing nonresponders to responders.

BACKGROUND: Inhaled nitric oxide (INO) has been shown to improve oxygenation in two thirds of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Failure to respond to INO is multifactorial. We hypothesized that the addition of positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) might modify the response to INO in patients who had previously failed to respond to INO. METHODS: Patients with ARDS who failed to respond to INO at 1 ppm (PaO2 increase of < 20%) were selected. Each patient underwent a PEEP trial using an improvement in static lung compliance as the end point. One hour after the new PEEP level was reached, hemodynamic and blood gas values were obtained. INO was then reinstituted at 1 ppm, and hemodynamic and blood gas variables were obtained 1 hour later. RESULTS: Six of nine patients demonstrated an increase in PaO2/FIO2 (161 +/- 27 to 186 +/- 29) with a mean increase in PEEP of 3.7 cm H2O. Each patient responding to PEEP further improved PaO2/FIO2 (186 +/- 29 to 223 +/- 36) with INO at 1 ppm. The three patients who failed to improve after the PEEP increase also failed to respond to a second trial of INO. There were no changes in cardiac output or systemic vascular resistance. Pulmonary artery pressures decreased slightly (39 +/- 5 vs 38 +/- 7 vs 35 +/- 9 mm Hg). Pulmonary vascular resistance decreased significantly after reintroduction of INO (298 +/- 131 vs 310 +/- 122 vs 249 +/- 105 dynes/sec/cm-5) in patients who responded positively. CONCLUSIONS: The response of ARDS patients to INO can be improved if optimum alveolar recruitment is achieved by the addition of PEEP. PEEP and INO have a synergistic effect on PaO2/FIO2. Patients who fail to respond to INO may benefit from an optimum PEEP trial.

Practice Management Guidelines for Prophylactic Antibiotic Use in Tube Thoracostomy for Traumatic Hemopneumothorax: the EAST Practice Management Guidelines Work Group. Eastern Association for Trauma.

Multiple factors contribute to the development of posttraumatic empyema. These factors include the conditions under which the tube is inserted (emergent or urgent), the mechanism of injury, retained hemothorax, and ventilator care. The incidence of empyema in placebo groups ranges between 0 and 18%. The administration of antibiotics for longer than 24 hours did not seem to significantly reduce this risk compared with a shorter duration, although the numbers in each series were small. Most reports found a significant reduction in pneumonitis when patients received prolonged prophylactic antibiotics. This use of antibiotics might possibly be better described as presumptive therapy rather than prophylactic.

Institutional and individual learning curves for focused abdominal ultrasound for trauma: cumulative sum analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate both institutional and individual learning curves with focused abdominal ultrasound for trauma (FAST) by analyzing the incidence of diagnostic inaccuracies as a function of examiner experience for a group of trauma surgeons performing the study in the setting of an urban level I trauma center. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Trauma surgeons are routinely using FAST to evaluate patients with blunt trauma for hemoperitoneum. The volume of experience required for practicing trauma surgeons to be able to perform this examination with a reproducible level of accuracy has not been fully defined. METHODS: The authors reviewed prospectively gathered data for all patients undergoing FAST for blunt trauma during a 30-month period. All FAST interpretations were validated by at least one of four methods: computed tomography, diagnostic peritoneal lavage, celiotomy, or serial clinical evaluations. Cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis was used to describe the learning curves for each individual surgeon at target accuracy rates of 85%, 90%, and 95% and for the institution as a whole at target examination accuracy rates of 85%, 90%, 95%, and 98%. RESULTS: Five trauma surgeons performed 546 FAST examinations during the study period. CUSUM analysis of the aggregate experience revealed that the examiners as a group exceeded 90% accuracy at the outset of clinical examination. The level of accuracy did not improve with either increased frequency of performance or total examination experience. The accuracy rates observed for each trauma surgeon ranged from 87% to 98%. The surgeon with the highest accuracy rate performed the fewest examinations. No practitioner demonstrated improved accuracy with increased experience. CONCLUSIONS: Trauma surgeons who are newly trained in the use of FAST can achieve an overall accuracy rate of at least 90% from the outset of clinical experience with this modality. Interexaminer variations in accuracy rates, which are observed above this level of performance, are probably related more to issues surrounding patient selection and inherent limitations of the examination in certain populations than to practitioner errors in the performance or interpretation of the study.