Paracolic Gutter Fluid Ultrasound

4 in paracolic gutter.

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. Fluid and fat stranding can be seen extending from the pelvis into the right upper quadrant by way of the paracolic gutter. Ultrasound is variably sensitive depending on the size of the patient and the operator. Paracolic gutters function to drain fluid that leaks from the colon such as infectious matter pus or bile and to prevent infection or damage to the outer margin of the colon.

Especially fluid collections in the lesser sac can simulate a cystic mass. Collections of peritoneal free fluid appear black or anechoic on ultrasound imaging. Fluid from an infected appendix can track up the right paracolic gutter to the hepatorenal recess. In the abdominal cavity fluid leaches from the colon into either the.

It is also known as sulci paracolic and paracolic recesses. Clinical significance edit bile pus or blood released from viscera anywhere along its length may run along the gutter and collect in sites quite remote from the organ of origin. Although ultrasound is sensitive to detect small amounts of peritoneal free fluid it cannot accurately differentiate types of peritoneal free fluid. 405 fasts reviewed 100 included.

Ultrasound or mr depict these septations better than ct. Peritoneal septa and loculated perihepatic fluid may be seen and gallbladder wall thickening may also be depicted fig 14a 14b 40 41. Etiologically it means a channel adjacent to the abdominal wall. This drainage occurs in much the same way that the gutters on a house draw the rain off the roof.

32 had free fluid in luq. Left paracolic gutter inferior to spleen. In thin patients relatively small volume of fluid can be found. There is a multi cystic mass extending from the pelvis along the right paracolic gutter to the upper abdomen.

Providers can use ultrasound to detect peritoneal free fluid and guide procedures like paracentesis.