Paracolic Gutter Ultrasound

Both paracolic spaces are in continuity with the pelvic peritoneal spaces.

Paracolic gutter ultrasound. The right and left paracolic gutters are peritoneal recesses on the posterior abdominal wall lying alongside the ascending and descending colon. In a male patient this is a very uncommon diagnosis. It is smaller than the right paracolic gutter. The main paracolic gutter lies lateral to the colon on each side.

Your fast exam is incomplete if you do not visualize this area. Abdominal case of the week cardiac ivc miscellaneous highlights procedure highlights lung ob gyn trauma soft tissue vascular msk. In this section ultrasound ultrasound education faculty image of the fortnight toggle section. Etiologically it means a channel adjacent to the abdominal wall.

Ultrasound or mr depict these septations better than ct. The left paracolic gutter is a component of the left inframesocolic space partially separated from the left subphrenic spaces by the phrenicocolic ligament. The left medial paracolic gutter. It is the depression between the postero lateral wall of the abdomen and the lateral margins of the ascending and descending colon.

Ultrasound is variably sensitive depending on the size of the patient and the operator. Blood in the peritoneal cavity from trauma is often first seen in the right paracolic gutter at the inferior tip of the liver. What are the paracolic gutters rectouterine pouch retroperitoneal space ulnar gutter subphrenic space abdominal wall hepatic flexure peritoneal space ascendi. Ultrasound images clips appendicitis with perforation.

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. It is also known as sulci paracolic and paracolic recesses. Ultrasound is the diagnostic modality of choice for the initial screening of unstable blunt trauma patients for peritoneal free fluid.

A less obvious medial paracolic gutter may be formed especially on the right side if the colon.