Increased body mass index does not impact the imaging quality of focused assessment with sonography in trauma. Issue 8 (18th June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ifelayo, Oluwatomilona I.; Oyemade, Kafayat A.; Tawfic, Sarah S.; Jeeji, Archana K.; Ekstein, Samuel F.; Smoot, William A.; Voelkel, Jacob E.; Laughlin, Michael J.; Lohse, Christine M.; Kummer, Tobias; Bellamkonda, Venkatesh R.
• Is Part Of: Journal of clinical ultrasound. Volume 48:Issue 8(2020)
• Page Start: 452
• Page End: 456
• Publication Date: 2020-06-18
• Subjects: BMI -- emergency department -- FAST -- image quality -- trauma -- ultrasound; Ultrasonics in medicine -- Periodicals; 616.07543
• DOI: 10.1002/jcu.22884
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0091-2751

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Many clinicians believe that a patient's body mass index (BMI) affects the likelihood of obtaining high quality ultrasound images. Objectives: To assess the hypothesis that increased BMI is associated with worsening focused assessment with sonography in trauma (FAST) image quality. Methods: We conducted a retrospective single‐center study of FAST examinations performed in a large academic emergency department (ED) with fellowship‐trained emergency ultrasonography faculty performing quality assurance review. Results: Mean (SD) BMI was 28.0 (6.6) among the 302 included studies. The overall quality rating tended to decrease as BMI increased but did not achieve statistical significance in a univariable setting ( P = .06) or after adjustment for age and sex ( P = .06). Operators perception of image adequacy was largely unaffected by BMI, with the exception of the pericardial view. Conclusion: This study did not identify a statistically significant difference in FAST quality with increased BMI. This result may help assuage clinician concerns about ultrasonography for patients in the ED.