Paracolic Gutter Ultrasound

Ultrasound images clips appendicitis with perforation.

Paracolic gutter ultrasound.

The main paracolic gutter lies lateral to the colon on each side. It is smaller than the right paracolic gutter. The left paracolic gutter is a component of the left inframesocolic space partially separated from the left subphrenic spaces by the phrenicocolic ligament. In thin patients relatively small volume of fluid can be found.

A less obvious medial paracolic gutter may be formed especially on the right side if the colon. It is also known as sulci paracolic and paracolic recesses. Ultrasound or mr depict these septations better than ct. Abdominal case of the week cardiac ivc miscellaneous highlights procedure highlights lung ob gyn trauma soft tissue vascular msk.

Blood in the peritoneal cavity from trauma is often first seen in the right paracolic gutter at the inferior tip of the liver. It is the depression between the postero lateral wall of the abdomen and the lateral margins of the ascending and descending colon. Fluid may sit within the peritoneal space or paracolic gutters or may be interposed between bowel loops or around solid organs e g. There is a multi cystic mass extending from the pelvis along the right paracolic gutter to the upper abdomen.

In this section ultrasound ultrasound education faculty image of the fortnight toggle section. Etiologically it means a channel adjacent to the abdominal wall. The left medial paracolic gutter. Pus in the paracolic gutter and in douglas pouch and debris filled bladder.

What are the paracolic gutters rectouterine pouch retroperitoneal space ulnar gutter subphrenic space abdominal wall hepatic flexure peritoneal space ascendi. Ultrasound is variably sensitive depending on the size of the patient and the operator. The right and left paracolic gutters are peritoneal recesses on the posterior abdominal wall lying alongside the ascending and descending colon. Between the outer wall of the colon and back side of the abdominal wall there is an open space known as the paracolic gutter.

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