Physiological pelvic intraperitoneal fluid

Last revised by Daniel J Bell on 30 Apr 2024

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Hacking C, Bell D, Physiological pelvic intraperitoneal fluid. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 04 May 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-55842

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-55842

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/55842

rID:

55842

Article created:

27 Sep 2017, Craig Hacking ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Craig Hacking had no recorded disclosures.

View Craig Hacking's current disclosures

Last revised:

30 Apr 2024, Daniel J Bell ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Daniel J Bell had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.

View Daniel J Bell's current disclosures

Revisions:

2 times, by 2 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Gynaecology, Trauma

Sections:

Approach

Synonyms:

Physiological pelvic free fluid

Physiological pelvic intraperitoneal fluid refers to the presence of a small volume of free fluid in the pelvis, particularly the pouch of Douglas. It occurs in young females of reproductive age and can be a mimic of traumatic free fluid in abdominal trauma.

Unfortunately, pelvic free fluid may be the only sign of traumatic bowel or mesenteric injury.

In the trauma patient, free pelvic fluid isolated to the pouch of Douglas that is low in density (below 15 HU) and does not extend more superiorly than the S3 body can be regarded as non-traumatic in nature ¹.