Culdocentesis is a medical procedure involving the extraction of fluid from the pouch of Douglas (a
rectouterine pouch posterior to the
vagina) through a needle. It can be one diagnostic technique used in identifying
pelvic inflammatory disease
Pelvic inflammatory disease, also known as pelvic inflammatory disorder (PID), is an infection of the upper part of the female reproductive system, namely the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries, and inside of the pelvis. Often, there may be no ...
(in which case
purulent fluid
Pus is an exudate, typically white-yellow, yellow, or yellow-brown, formed at the site of inflammation during bacterial or fungal infection. An accumulation of pus in an enclosed tissue space is known as an abscess, whereas a visible collection ...
will be extracted) and ruptured ectopic pregnancies that cause hemoperitoneum.
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.
See also
*
amniocentesis
*
colposcopy
Colposcopy ( grc, κόλπος, kolpos, hollow, womb, vagina + ''skopos'' "look at") is a medical diagnostic procedure to visually examine the cervix as well as the vagina and vulva using a colposcope.
The main goal of colposcopy is to prevent c ...
*
culdoscopy
References
External links
*
"Culdocentesis and colpotomy"at
World Health Organization
*
Female genital procedures
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