Drainage can be (1) serous (clear and thin; may be present in a healthy, healing wound), (2) serosanguineous (containing blood; may also be present in a healthy, healing wound), (3) sanguineous (primarily blood), or (4) purulent (thick, white, and pus-like; may be indicative of infection and should be cultured).
There are four types of wound drainage: serous, sanguineous, serosanguinous, and purulent.
Normal wound drainage involves the discharge of thin, watery fluids that may be clear or contain tiny amounts of blood. Abnormal wound drainage is when the discharge is thick, bloody, or has a milky white, yellow, green, gray, or brown color (often with a foul smell).
Purulent drainage is a sign of infection. It's a white, yellow, or brown fluid and might be slightly thick in texture. It's made up of white blood cells trying to fight the infection, plus the residue from any bacteria pushed out of the wound. There may be an unpleasant smell to the fluid, as well.
Debride the wound by removing dead or infected tissue in the wound. Rinse the wound with salt water (saline solution) Drain the pocket of pus (abscess), if present. Pack the wound with saline-soaked dressings and cover it with a bandage.
The wound may drain for the first 2 days. Cover the wound with a clean dry dressing. Change the dressing if it becomes soaked with blood or pus.
Color is generally clear to pale yellow (normal), red (fresh blood), brown (dried or old blood), white (see above), or blue-green (usually indicative of Pseudomonas infection and should be cultured).
Serous drainage
It is often thin and watery and will usually have a clear to yellowish or brownish appearance. Small amounts of serous drainage are normal during the first stages of healing.
Surgical wound drainage is recognized as a key element in facilitating the healing process. Wound drainage systems are designed to allow enough moisture to remain in tissues to promote regeneration and lessen inflammation, while removing excess exudate or material that may hamper the healing process.
Purulent drainage is liquid or discharge that oozes from a wound.
rinse the wound under running tap water for 5 to 10 minutes. soak a gauze pad or cloth in saline solution or tap water, or use an alcohol-free wipe, and gently dab or wipe the skin with it – don't use antiseptic as this may damage the skin.
Serous drainage is considered beneficial as it comprises proteins, sugars, leucocytes, and others that facilitate healing processes. This type of exudate is produced during the inflammatory stage (during the first 48 to 72 hours), which is perfectly normal.
Serous drainage is a thin, watery fluid that is produced in response to local inflammation. A small amount of serous drainage is essential for the healing process.
Serous Drainage
When your wound is fresh and going through the inflammatory wound healing stages, it's perfectly normal to experience this type of drainage. If you notice an overwhelming amount of serous drainage, it may indicate high bioburden, or the presence of unsterilized bacteria living on the wound.
Sanguineous drainage is the initial discharge produced after an injury or an open wound where the skin is broken. Sanguineous drainage mostly contains fresh, bright-red blood and a clear, yellow liquid called blood serum.
When you first get the drain, the fluid will be bloody. It will change colour from red to pink to a light yellow or clear as the wound heals and the fluid starts to go away. Your doctor may give you information on when you no longer need the drain and when it will be removed.
Wound bed. Healthy granulation tissue is pink in colour and is an indicator of healing. Unhealthy granulation is dark red in colour, often bleeds on contact, and may indicate the presence of wound infection. Such wounds should be cultured and treated in the light of microbiological results.
Pus is a whitish-yellow, yellow, or brown-yellow protein-rich fluid called liquor puris that accumulates at the site of an infection. It consists of a buildup of dead, white blood cells that form when the body's immune system responds to the infection.
Inappropriate use of drains can lead to complications that include infection and increased overall patient morbidity. Inappropriate placement can also increase the risk for incision dehiscence or delayed/failed wound healing.
Generally, drains should be removed once the drainage has stopped or becomes less than about 25 ml/day. Drains can be 'shortened' by withdrawing them gradually (typically by 2 cm per day) and so, in theory, allowing the site to heal gradually.
Alginate dressings are made to offer effective protection for wounds that have high amounts of drainage, and burns, venous ulcers, packing wounds, and higher state pressure ulcers. These dressings absorb excess liquid and create a gel that helps to heal the wound or burn more quickly.