Paracolic Gutter Fluid Ct

The right paracolic gutter is larger than the left and.

Paracolic gutter fluid ct. B coronal ct image obtained in a 51 year old man shows the supramesocolic spaces outlined by dialysate solution. The right and left paracolic gutters are peritoneal recesses on the posterior abdominal wall lying alongside the ascending and descending colon. Paracolic gutters function to drain fluid that leaks from the colon such as infectious matter pus or bile and to prevent infection or damage to the outer margin of the colon this drainage occurs in much the same way that the gutters on a house draw the rain off the roof. It can be compared to fluid in the gallbladder or stomach.

Ascites is well demonstrated by ct. Dense fluid may suggest hemoperitoneum especially in the context of trauma. Fluid may sit within the peritoneal space or paracolic gutters or may be interposed between bowel loops or around solid organs e g. It can be divided into two unequal spaces posteriorly by the mesentery of the small bowel as it runs from the duodenojejunal flexure in the left upper quadrant to the ileocecal valve in the right lower quadrant.

The main paracolic gutter lies lateral to the colon on each side. Areas of preferential fluid stasis include the pouch of douglas the right lower quadrant at the termination of the small bowel mesentery superior aspect of the sigmoid mesentery and the right paracolic gutter. The left lateral paracolic gutter. Fluid on ct is relatively hypodense dark on ct.

The right lateral paracolic gutter. Compared with computed tomography ct other advantages of us are its lack of ionizing radiation and lower cost. Small amounts of ascitic fluid localize in the right perihepatic space the posterior subhepatic space i e morison s pouch and the pouch of douglas. Ascites is the collection of free fluid in the peritoneal cavity normally the peritoneal cavity contain small amount of serous fluid for lubrication less than 100 ml free fluid exceeding this amount considered ascites ascites may result from variety of medical surgical causes clinically detectable ascites when its amount exceeding 1500 ml and.

The right and left paracolic gutters both lies on the lateral side of posterior abdominal wall alongside the ascending and descending colon are the peritoneal recesses. Your fast exam is incomplete if you do not visualize this area. The inframesocolic space is the peritoneal space below the root of the transverse mesocolon the supramesocolic space lies above the transverse mesocolon s root. The right paracolic gutter is much larger than the left one and thus allows more fluid to pass through.

Of the small amount of normal peritoneal fluid. Fluid flow and stasis is dependent on gravity changes in intra abdominal pressure and peritoneal reflections. The left medial paracolic gutter. A less obvious medial paracolic gutter may be formed especially on the right side if the colon.