Although ultrasound is sensitive to detect small amounts of peritoneal free fluid it cannot accurately differentiate types of peritoneal free fluid.
Paracolic gutter fluid ultrasound.
4 in paracolic gutter.
Between the outer wall of the colon and back side of the abdominal wall there is an open space known as the paracolic gutter.
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.
It is also known as sulci paracolic and paracolic recesses.
Clear fluid without internal echoes is likely to be reactive.
Providers can use ultrasound to detect peritoneal free fluid and guide procedures like paracentesis.
32 had free fluid in luq.
Left paracolic gutter inferior to spleen.
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.