| Culdocentesis |
Culdocentesis is a medical procedure involving the extraction of fluid from the rectouterine pouch (pouch of Douglas) posterior to the vagina through a needle. It can be one diagnostic technique used in identifying pelvic inflammatory disease (in which case purulent fluid will be extracted) and ruptured ectopic pregnancies that cause hemoperitoneum.[1]
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.