Is the pouch of Douglas Real?

Is the pouch of Douglas Real?

The pouch of Douglas is a small area in the female human body between the uterus and the rectum. It has a name and a shape, but the essence of it, the point of it, is that it is a piece of nothing.

What can occur in the rectouterine pouch?

The rectouterine pouch, being the lowest part of the peritoneal cavity in a woman at supine position, is a common site for the spread of pathology such as ascites, tumour, endometriosis, pus, etc.

Can you get cancer in the pouch of Douglas?

It is the most dependent portion of a woman’s pelvis and thus a common location for fluid, abscesses and drop metastases. Primary malignancy can also occur in the POD, albeit rare, with only 31 cases reported in English literature so far.

Is pouch of Douglas present in males?

The pouch of Douglas (cul-de-sac) represents the caudal extension of the peritoneal cavity. It is the rectovaginal pouch in the female and the rectovesical pouch in the male. The cul-de-sac is in a dependent position when either upright or supine; it is, therefore, a frequent location for seeded lesions.

Where is the rectouterine pouch?

The rectouterine pouch is the lowest point of the abdominal cavity. In women, it is situated between the rectum and the uterus; in men, between the rectum and the bladder.

Is pouch of Douglas removed in hysterectomy?

It seems to the editor that the uterosacral ligaments and pouch of Douglas are seldom removed when hysterectomy is performed in the type of cases reported in this paper; one achieves mobility of the uterus before its removal by cutting the uterosacral ligaments, not removing them; in these cases we are concerned about …

How do you check a rectouterine pouch?

While gently pressing your fingers as superiorly as possible, examine the rectouterine pouch. During this procedure, palpate laterally, identifying the right and left uterosacral ligaments and noting any masses or abnormal tenderness. Re-examine both the right and left adnexa with the rectovaginal technique.

How do you drain a rectouterine pouch?

In the procedure, the rectouterine pouch is often reached through the posterior fornix of the vagina. The process of creating the hole is called colpotomy if a scalpel incision is made to drain the fluid rather than using a needle….

What is the treatment for fluid in the pouch of Douglas?

Culdocentesis is the puncture and aspiration (withdrawal) of fluid from the pouch of Douglas or rectouterine pouch. The pouch of Douglas or rectouterine pouch is formed between the part of the gut and the uterus. The procedure involves the introduction of a needle through the vaginal wall into the pouch of Douglas.

Do males have a rectouterine pouch?

The rectovesical pouch is the pocket that lies between the rectum and the bladder in males in humans and other mammals. It is lined by peritoneum. Median sagittal section of male pelvis.

How do you get the fluid out of a pouch of Douglas?

What is the importance of the pouch of Douglas?

The pouch of Douglas should always be evaluated at the time of a transvaginal ultrasound, as the findings are often helpful in supporting a pelvic pain diagnosis. Because fluid from the pouch of Douglas protects the body from contamination, checking it on transvaginal ultrasound is vital.