Point-of-Care Ultrasound Techniques for the Small Animal Practitioner. Группа авторов

coagulopathic (Lisciandro 2016b; Hnatusko et al. 2019). Because of this newly described complication in dogs, a focused spleen is now recommended following the AFAST examination in all canine hemoabdomens, and in general following any AFAST examinations in both dogs and cats (see Chapter 6 and Figure 6.35. See also canine anaphylaxis and gallbladder wall edema section within this chapter).

      The focused spleen is a rule‐in test, meaning that when a mass is detected, it is probably real (see Figure 6.35). In contrast, if a splenic mass is not seen then it could have been missed, depending on the proficiency of the sonographer and location of the mass. Thus, the focused spleen examination should be considered as it has high specificity as a screening test, but with variable sensitivity. The focused spleen is helpful because when a cavitated midabdominal mass is detected, especially when associated with the spleen and deforming its capsule, such a finding raises the probability of being correct in concluding that the hemoabdomen is due to a bleeding mass (surgical management) rather than canine anaphylaxis (medical management) (Lisciandro 2014a, 2016b). Any mass that deforms the capsule of the spleen should be considered a serious finding.

      Pearl: In contrast to dogs, cats with spontaneous nontraumatic hemoabdomen have a poor prognosis because the cause is likely advanced forms of neoplasia (Mandell and Drobatz 1995; Culp et al. 2010). However, the AFAST‐applied AFS is helpful in predicting degree of anticipated anemia, the need for blood transfusion and exploratory laparotomy, or other hemostatic interventions. The Global FAST approach may also be used to stage the feline.

Major AFAST Difference Between Blunt and Penetrating Trauma

There is a major difference that must be understood when applying AFAST to blunt and penetrating trauma. The difference lies in the behavior of blood. In blunt trauma, it generally doesn't matter where the patient bleeds as mesothelial cells lining the abdominal cavity, pleural cavity, and pericardial sac rapidly defibrinate blood, making it readily apparent on AFAST as free fluid (anechoic triangulations). In contrast, victims of penetrating trauma have ripping, tearing and crushing of tissue, especially with bite wounds, and hence blood clots. During AFAST, clotted blood is often difficult to discriminate from adjacent soft tissue and thus is often initially missed (Figure 7.6). Although there are no large veterinary studies (Lisciandro et al. 2008, 2009; Lisciandro 2012), the importance is likely similar to that in human medicine (Udobi et al. 2001), in that FAST is likely highly specific for surgical trauma but variably sensitive. AFAST (and Global FAST) should still be used as a first‐line screening test because of all the clinical questions that may be answered regarding the patient. However, in instances of a negative AFAST, serial examinations should be implemented as standard of care until it is clear whether the patient is surgical versus medical.

In time, clotted blood will defribinate and appear as free fluid, and when viscus organ injury is present, likely the organ will “leak” into the abdominal cavity. Thus, AFAST carries the potential to detect septic peritonitis and other developing complications earlier in their course. In fact, vascular injury, uroabdomen, bilioabdomen, gastrointestinal injury, and others may present over the next several days post injury. Parenchymal injury is also possible and the use of color flow Doppler can be helpful especially for screening for renal injury (Figure 7.7). The author recommends continually performing AFAST serial examinations (or the Global FAST approach) four, eight, 12, and 24 hours post admission, and even two, three, and five days post injury. In other words, repeat the AFAST (Global FAST) as many times as needed until a surgical problem is comfortably ruled out.

Serial FAST examination strategies have proven helpful in human medicine (Blackbourne et al. 2004; Kirkpatrick et al. 2004; Ollerton et al. 2006; Matsushima and Frankel 2011; Mohammadi and Ghasemi‐Rad 2012). Although abdominal radiographs are of variable yield for blunt trauma because of their unreliability in detecting free fluid and their inability to semiquantitate volume (Lisciandro et al. 2009), radiography is always indicated in penetrating trauma as part of patient evaluation because of its ability to effectively detect hard tissue (fractures, luxations), soft tissue (herniation), and viscus organ injury (free air).

Figure 7.6. Clotted blood adjacent to the left kidney at the SR view. In penetrating trauma, blood often clots and clotted blood appears like soft tissue and is easy to miss during AFAST. Where suspected, color flow Doppler may be used. Clotted blood will lack flow. The image at the SR view shows the left kidney and an adjacent large clot with no flow on color Doppler, unlabeled in (A) and labeled in (B). Serial exams are key because if the clot was missed initially, the opportunity to capture the condition remains when repeating AFAST. Clot is outlined with cursors (V). LK, left kidney.

      Source: Reproduced with permission of Dr Gregory Lisciandro, Hill Country Veterinary Specialists and FASTVet.com, Spicewood, TX.

      Pearl: Although abdominal radiography is typically a low yield diagnostic test in bluntly traumatized patients for abdominal effusion, radiography should always be part of the standard work‐up in penetrating trauma.

      Pearl: AFAST often misses clotted blood, which is a common feature of penetrating trauma, because the echogenicity of clots is similar to soft tissue. The use of color flow Doppler can be helpful because clotted blood has no blood flow.

      Pearl: Serial AFAST exams increase sensitivity for the detection of intraabdominal injury in penetrating trauma suspects and should be routinely performed four hours post admission (sooner if unstable or questionable) and then as often as needed when surgical injury is still possible, including up to five days or more post injury.

Figure 7.7. Evaluating for blood flow of the left kidney at the (SR) view. In (A) is a B‐mode image followed by color flow Doppler in (B) showing pulsatile flow. In penetrating injury, especially bite wounds over the lumbar region, or in animals which were shaken by their attacker, renal injury and avulsion are possible. It is a good habit to apply color flow Doppler routinely in these at‐risk cases, especially prior to exploratory surgery to help decision making by the surgeon for salvaging or removing the kidney.

      Source: Reproduced with permission of Dr Gregory Lisciandro, Hill Country Veterinary Specialists and FASTVet.com, Spicewood, TX.

       How Long Does It Take for Cavitary Bleeding to Resolve?

      There are no veterinary studies that have established this definitively, but author experience and discussion among colleagues suggest that we should expect cavitary bleeds (peritoneal cavity, pleural cavity, pericardial sac) to resolve (or be very minimal in AFS) within 48 hours once the bleeding stops or after coagulopathy has been corrected (and remains corrected). We call this the “AFAST‐TFAST 48‐hour rule.”

      Save All Cavitary Hemorrhage

      It is important to harvest all cavitary hemorrhage cleanly into a collection apparatus as basic as clean syringes. The blood in the majority of cases will be naturally defibrinated in both dogs and cats. The collected cavitary hemorrhage may be administered without added anticoagulant through an inline blood filter to prevent administration of blood clots back to the patient (Higgs et al. 2015; Robinson et al. 2016; Cole and Humm 2019).