Abdomen Sonography: Peritoneal Cavity Pathologies and Abnormalities - Video Lesson

Hey, everyone. Welcome back to our lessons in abdominal ultrasound. In today's lesson, we'll shift our focus to the peritoneal cavity, a potential space that plays a central role in many abdominal pathologies and abnormalities. We'll identify its normal anatomy, explore how and where fluid can accumulate, and dive into the sonographic appearance of various types of peritoneal fluid collections, abscesses, and complications. Let's get started. The peritoneal cavity is a closed potential space lined by the parietal and visceral peritoneum. It normally contains a small amount of lubricating fluid, but can expand significantly when fluid, blood, pus, or other materials accumulate. On ultrasound, we evaluate this space for the presence, distribution, and nature of any abnormal fluid collections. Let's start with ascites, the most