Paracolic Gutter Fluid Ultrasound

Between the outer wall of the colon and back side of the abdominal wall there is an open space known as the paracolic gutter.

Paracolic gutter fluid ultrasound.

It is also known as sulci paracolic and paracolic recesses. 405 fasts reviewed 100 included. In thin patients relatively small volume of fluid can be found. 6 or 6 if you re a math whiz had isolated luq free fluid 86 5 of 6 had isolated splenic injury the other had renal lac liver lac and ivc injury.

Although ultrasound is sensitive to detect small amounts of peritoneal free fluid it cannot accurately differentiate types of peritoneal free fluid. Clear fluid without internal echoes is likely to be reactive. It is the depression between the postero lateral wall of the abdomen and the lateral margins of the ascending and descending colon. Collections of peritoneal free fluid appear black or anechoic on ultrasound imaging.

Providers can use ultrasound to detect peritoneal free fluid and guide procedures like paracentesis. Left paracolic gutter inferior to spleen. 4 in paracolic gutter.