Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The most accurate technique for detecting signs of intra-abdominal injury is the eFAST, or extended Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma. This technique is particularly valuable because it allows for rapid identification of free fluid, which can indicate bleeding or injury in the abdominal cavity, especially in trauma patients.

eFAST is a point-of-care ultrasound examination tailored for trauma settings, enabling clinicians to visualize organs and detect fluid in real-time without the need for transporting the patient to a radiology suite. This speed is crucial in emergency situations where timely intervention can significantly impact patient outcomes.

While physical examination can yield important clinical signs, it is not as reliable in confirming intra-abdominal injuries, especially in patients with altered consciousness or those who are obese. CT imaging is highly sensitive and specific for identifying abdominal injuries but can be less practical in unstable trauma patients who may not tolerate transport to the CT scanner. X-ray imaging has limited utility in assessing intra-abdominal injuries as it cannot effectively visualize soft tissue or fluid, making it the least favorable option for this purpose.

Thus, the eFAST technique combines accuracy, speed, and practicality, making it the preferred choice for detecting intra-abdominal injury in trauma scenarios.