FAST Exam UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
True or false: The hepatorenal interface, or Morison's pouch, is the most dependent point within
the peritoneal cavity in a supine patient. - true
To optimize the subxiphoid cardiac view, __________. A. use the liver as an acoustic window
B. be sure the patient's bed is flat - A and B
True or False: The parasternal long (PSL) cardiac view is always easier to obtain than the
subxiphoid cardiac view. - false
To obtain an optimal left upper quadrant view of the splenorenal interface, __________.
A. hold the ultrasound transducer in a coronal plane
B. hold the ultrasound transducer slightly superior and posterior with respect to the position that
was held for the right upper quadrant view
C. avoid imaging the stomach - A, B, C
When visualizing the left upper quadrant, if the spleen and diaphragm have been visualized, but
the kidney is not in its expected place, __________.
A. fan the transducer slightly posteriorly
B. fan the transducer slightly anteriorly
C. rotate the transducer 90 degrees clockwise
D. rotate the transducer 90 degrees counterclockwise
E. None of the above - A, Correct. Imaging of the left upper quadrant view begins in a coronal
plane at about the midaxillary line. When the spleen and diaphragm have been located, fan the
transducer slightly posteriorly to bring the left kidney into view, without sliding the probe along
the patient's skin. This brings the retroperitoneal space into the plane of view. Another way to
, imagine the movement is to pretend the probe is a flashlight and shine the flashlight slightly
toward the spine.
On the sagittal pelvic view, free fluid can be found collecting in the __________.
A. vesicouterine space (anterior cul-de-sac)
B. rectouterine space (posterior cul-de-sac or pouch of Douglas)
C. on the left side of the ultrasound screen - all the above
When visualizing the left upper quadrant, if the spleen and diaphragm have been visualized, but
the stomach is visualized instead of the kidney, __________. - fan the transducer significantly
posteriorly
True or False: When inspecting the thoracic cavity for a hemothorax, the artifact that suggests the
presence of a normally inflated lung is called mirror artifact. - true
A pericardial fat pad __________.
A. can be mistaken for a pericardial effusion
B. is usually less than one centimeter in thickness
C. does not typically surround the entire heart - A, B, C
To increase the accuracy of the FAST exam, __________.
A. place the abdominal quadrant of interest in a dependent position
B. insert a nasogastric tube
C. perform the exam prior to Foley catheter insertion - A, B, C
Which of the following best characterizes perinephric fat?
A. Perinephric fat has a uniform anechoic appearance.
B. Perinephric fat is an extremely rare sonographic finding.
Answers
True or false: The hepatorenal interface, or Morison's pouch, is the most dependent point within
the peritoneal cavity in a supine patient. - true
To optimize the subxiphoid cardiac view, __________. A. use the liver as an acoustic window
B. be sure the patient's bed is flat - A and B
True or False: The parasternal long (PSL) cardiac view is always easier to obtain than the
subxiphoid cardiac view. - false
To obtain an optimal left upper quadrant view of the splenorenal interface, __________.
A. hold the ultrasound transducer in a coronal plane
B. hold the ultrasound transducer slightly superior and posterior with respect to the position that
was held for the right upper quadrant view
C. avoid imaging the stomach - A, B, C
When visualizing the left upper quadrant, if the spleen and diaphragm have been visualized, but
the kidney is not in its expected place, __________.
A. fan the transducer slightly posteriorly
B. fan the transducer slightly anteriorly
C. rotate the transducer 90 degrees clockwise
D. rotate the transducer 90 degrees counterclockwise
E. None of the above - A, Correct. Imaging of the left upper quadrant view begins in a coronal
plane at about the midaxillary line. When the spleen and diaphragm have been located, fan the
transducer slightly posteriorly to bring the left kidney into view, without sliding the probe along
the patient's skin. This brings the retroperitoneal space into the plane of view. Another way to
, imagine the movement is to pretend the probe is a flashlight and shine the flashlight slightly
toward the spine.
On the sagittal pelvic view, free fluid can be found collecting in the __________.
A. vesicouterine space (anterior cul-de-sac)
B. rectouterine space (posterior cul-de-sac or pouch of Douglas)
C. on the left side of the ultrasound screen - all the above
When visualizing the left upper quadrant, if the spleen and diaphragm have been visualized, but
the stomach is visualized instead of the kidney, __________. - fan the transducer significantly
posteriorly
True or False: When inspecting the thoracic cavity for a hemothorax, the artifact that suggests the
presence of a normally inflated lung is called mirror artifact. - true
A pericardial fat pad __________.
A. can be mistaken for a pericardial effusion
B. is usually less than one centimeter in thickness
C. does not typically surround the entire heart - A, B, C
To increase the accuracy of the FAST exam, __________.
A. place the abdominal quadrant of interest in a dependent position
B. insert a nasogastric tube
C. perform the exam prior to Foley catheter insertion - A, B, C
Which of the following best characterizes perinephric fat?
A. Perinephric fat has a uniform anechoic appearance.
B. Perinephric fat is an extremely rare sonographic finding.
