The Use of the FAST (Focused Abdominal Scan for Trauma) Scan by Paramedics in Mass Casualty Incidents

Sponsor
Ascension Genesys Hospital (Other)
Overall Status
Completed
CT.gov ID
NCT01310504
Collaborator
(none)
19
1
2
2
9.5

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

Initially a group of paramedics will be trained to perform FAST (Focused Abdominal Scan for Trauma) scans. The paramedics will then enter a simulated mass causality incident and triage patients. Volunteers in the study will include peritoneal dialysis patients ("non stable") and non-peritoneal dialysis patients ("stable"). They will use the ultrasound to perform FAST scans on the patients to determine which subjects are "stable" and which are "unstable" patients. They will record which patients they consider need transport first. This data will be used to evaluate accuracy and speed of the FAST scan. When the paramedic identifies free fluid within the volunteer, they will be able to make the decision to upgrade these patients and ultimately transport them more quickly. The paramedics will be evaluated for time and accuracy with the FAST scan.

Condition or Disease Intervention/Treatment Phase
  • Procedure: SonoSite Ultrasound
  • Procedure: SonoSite Ultrasound
N/A

Detailed Description

Ultrasound and the FAST (Focused Abdominal Scan for Trauma) scan is currently being used in the Emergency Department to help evaluate trauma patients. In the field a paramedic will use the START (Simple Triage Rapid Treatment) triage procedure to evaluate many patients and to help decide which patients are more critical and therefore need to be transported first. This study aims to create a mass casualty environment through the use of 10 volunteers who are on peritoneal dialysis and 10 patients who are not.

Study Design

Study Type:
Interventional
Actual Enrollment :
19 participants
Allocation:
Non-Randomized
Intervention Model:
Parallel Assignment
Masking:
Single (Care Provider)
Primary Purpose:
Health Services Research
Official Title:
The Use of the FAST Scan by Paramedics in Mass Casualty Incidents
Study Start Date :
Mar 1, 2011
Actual Primary Completion Date :
May 1, 2011
Actual Study Completion Date :
May 1, 2011

Arms and Interventions

Arm Intervention/Treatment
Active Comparator: Non peritoneal dialysis patient

Procedure: SonoSite Ultrasound
Will be moulaged to resemble a peritoneal dialysis patient. Paramedics will scan the abdomen and determine it there's fluid within.

Active Comparator: Peritoneal dialysis patient

Procedure: SonoSite Ultrasound
Paramedics will scan the abdomen and determine it there's fluid within.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

  1. To evaluate the use of the ultra sound and FAST scans in a simulation of a mass causality incident by paramedics for accuracy and speed [up to 1 year]

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:
18 Years to 90 Years
Sexes Eligible for Study:
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Yes
Inclusion Criteria:

Paramedic - at least one year in the field, physically able to perform the test

Patients:
  • (10)peritoneal dialysis patient that are able to leave dialysate in abdominal cavity for the duration of the test

  • (10) subjects not on peritoneal dialysis who are available for the duration of the test

Exclusion Criteria:
  • Under 18 years of age

Contacts and Locations

Locations

Site City State Country Postal Code
1 Genesys Regional Medical Center Grand Blanc Michigan United States 48439

Sponsors and Collaborators

  • Ascension Genesys Hospital

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: James A Cusser, MD, Ascension Genesys Hospital

Study Documents (Full-Text)

None provided.

More Information

Publications

None provided.
Responsible Party:
J. Andrew Cusser, MD, Ascension Genesys Hospital
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT01310504
Other Study ID Numbers:
  • ME 10 0050
First Posted:
Mar 8, 2011
Last Update Posted:
Aug 17, 2012
Last Verified:
Aug 1, 2012

Study Results

No Results Posted as of Aug 17, 2012