New ultrasonographic imaging technique in cat and dog critical care patients: A-FAST

Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) and Veterinary point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) are fast ultrasonographic diagnostic tools developed to discover pathologies in trauma patients in veterinary medicine and direct veterinarians to accurate treatment plans. Aside from detection, scoring and treatment protocol establishment in traumatic and non-traumatic hemoabdomen cases, AFAST (abdominal FAST) sonography is used effectively to define anaphylaxis, pericardial effusions and cardiac tamponade and pleural effusion symptoms. This technique when implemented every 4 hours for 3 to 5 minutes assists in identification of patient prognosis and treatment protocols through focused imaging. With this review, we aimed to explain and deliver in detail indications for AFAST3 technique, know-how and clinical benefits for trauma patients.