Paracolic Gutter Fluid Ultrasound

Left paracolic gutter inferior to spleen.

Paracolic gutter fluid ultrasound.

In thin patients relatively small volume of fluid can be found. 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. Providers can use ultrasound to detect peritoneal free fluid and guide procedures like paracentesis.

Etiologically it means a channel adjacent to the abdominal wall. Ultrasound is variably sensitive depending on the size of the patient and the operator. 4 in paracolic gutter. It is the depression between the postero lateral wall of the abdomen and the lateral margins of 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. Collections of peritoneal free fluid appear black or anechoic on ultrasound imaging. 32 had free fluid in luq.