Detecting abdominal free fluid with remote-guided eFAST ultrasound

Telementored eFAST in Patients Post-Liver Surgery: A Study of Diagnostic Accuracy for Detection of Free Fluid

NA · Oslo University Hospital · NCT06594562

This will test if a remote ultrasound expert can guide a nurse to use eFAST to find abdominal free fluid in patients within 72 hours after laparoscopic liver surgery.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment40 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorOslo University Hospital (other)
Locations1 site (Oslo, Oslo)
Trial IDNCT06594562 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a prospective diagnostic feasibility trial enrolling 40 patients who have undergone laparoscopic liver surgery at Oslo University Hospital. Shortly after surgery, a nurse will perform an eFAST ultrasound while a remote expert provides real-time telementoring, and results will be compared with a conventional on-site radiologist ultrasound. The study will measure diagnostic agreement, exam duration, network reliability, and cognitive workload using the NASA Task Load Index. Investigators will also track changes in efficiency over repeated examinations to characterize the learning curve for telementored eFAST.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults who underwent laparoscopic liver surgery at Oslo University Hospital and are within 72 hours post‑operation are the intended participants.

Not a fit: Patients with an allergy to ultrasound gel, those colonized with ESBL, MRSA, or VRE, or those with significant pain worsened by probe pressure are excluded and unlikely to benefit from this approach.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, remote-guided eFAST could allow faster bedside detection of abdominal fluid after liver surgery and reduce need for more resource-intensive imaging.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies of teleultrasound and remotely guided FAST in trauma and remote settings have shown promise, but applying telementored eFAST specifically to postoperative liver patients is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

Patients who have undergone laparoscopic liver surgery at the Oslo university hospital and are within 72 post-surgery

Exclusion Criteria:

Allergy to ultrasound gel. Patients colonized with ESBL, MRSA and VRE will be excluded due to infection control. Significant postoperative pain that can exacerbated by probe pressure.

Where this trial is running

Oslo, Oslo

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Hemoperitoneum, Ascites, Intra-Abdominal Fluid Collection, Postoperative Complications, Teleultrasound, eFAST, Telemedicine, Ultrasound

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.