Paracolic Gutter Fluid Ultrasound

Etiologically it means a channel adjacent to the abdominal wall.

Paracolic gutter fluid ultrasound.

Collections of peritoneal free fluid appear black or anechoic on ultrasound imaging. Although ultrasound is sensitive to detect small amounts of peritoneal free fluid it cannot accurately differentiate types of peritoneal free fluid. 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. Ultrasound is variably sensitive depending on the size of the patient and the operator.

Between the outer wall of the colon and back side of the abdominal wall there is an open space known as the paracolic gutter. 32 had free fluid in luq. In thin patients relatively small volume of fluid can be found. Left paracolic gutter inferior to spleen.

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