The obese patient is a difficult scan. Adipose tissue does not transmit sound waves well. The imagery, thus the information available, can be quite limited. The presents of subcutaneous air greatly reduces the image quality. Limitations are also placed by the physician himself.
Good technique is mandatory to obtain high quality imagery.
Interpretation of image is obviously user dependent. Now that a baseline knowledge has been provided, the next step is to learn how to perform the FAST scan. As all things, from a skin incision to the golf swing, it all begins with proper stance and grip. The proper stance is ultrasonogopher standing at the pt's right approximately level with the umbilicus. This will allow easy viewing of the screen during the FAST scan.