Paracolic Gutter Ultrasound

The left medial paracolic gutter.

Paracolic gutter 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. In a male patient this is a very uncommon diagnosis. Ultrasound is variably sensitive depending on the size of the patient and the operator. What are the paracolic gutters rectouterine pouch retroperitoneal space ulnar gutter subphrenic space abdominal wall hepatic flexure peritoneal space ascendi.

A less obvious medial paracolic gutter may be formed especially on the right side if the colon. The left paracolic gutter is a component of the left inframesocolic space partially separated from the left subphrenic spaces by the phrenicocolic ligament. Blood in the peritoneal cavity from trauma is often first seen in the right paracolic gutter at the inferior tip of the liver. Ultrasound images clips appendicitis with perforation.

Both paracolic spaces are in continuity with the pelvic peritoneal spaces. Your fast exam is incomplete if you do not visualize this area. Ultrasound or mr depict these septations better than ct. It is also known as sulci paracolic and paracolic recesses.

Abdominal case of the week cardiac ivc miscellaneous highlights procedure highlights lung ob gyn trauma soft tissue vascular msk. Pus in the paracolic gutter and in douglas pouch and debris filled bladder. In thin patients relatively small volume of fluid can be found. It is the depression between the postero lateral wall of the abdomen and the lateral margins of the ascending and descending colon.

Etiologically it means a channel adjacent to the abdominal wall. In this section ultrasound ultrasound education faculty image of the fortnight toggle section. The main paracolic gutter lies lateral to the colon on each side. Fluid may sit within the peritoneal space or paracolic gutters or may be interposed between bowel loops or around solid organs e g.

The right and left paracolic gutters are peritoneal recesses on the posterior abdominal wall lying alongside the ascending and descending colon.