Peritoneal Lavage

I have seen this procedure done once too.

The surgeon thought he saw something on the US. Then, he immediately turned around and asked us for the DPL tray. I don't know the exact reasoning for the DPL with this one? I can tell you what I think though... This patient was very very obese, and I remember the surgeons quickly discussing what they thought they were seeing on the FAST exam... It seemed to me that they all thought they were seeing something very threatening, but the patients size made the US unreliable, and they wanted to know right then and there, if there was any blood in the abdomen? The diagnostic peritoneal lavage turned out negative. I haven't seen or heard of this procedure since. I just thought I would share the experience.