Serous drainage is composed mainly of plasma. 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.
Serous drainage is mostly clear or slightly yellow thin plasma that is just a bit thicker than water. It can be seen in venous ulceration and also in partial-thickness wounds. Generally, this is not one of the types of wound drainage that leaves much color on a bandage.
Color: Wound drainage that is part of the healing process is usually clear or has a pale hue. Slightly colored drainage or discharge that changes color may be a sign of an infection. Odor: Most of the time, smell is not a good indicator of an infection.
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.
There are four types of wound drainage: serous, sanguineous, serosanguinous, and purulent. Serous drainage is clear, thin, and watery. The production of serous drainage is a typical response from the body during the normal inflammatory healing stage.
While serous or serosanguineous drainage is normal in small amounts, call your surgeon or healthcare provider if the drainage is profuse or persists for longer than 72 hours.
Serous drainage is a clear, thin, and watery exudate that typically appears during the inflammatory stage of wound healing.
Sometimes serous drainage is also tinged with a milky, off-color fluid. If serum isn't completely clear and pus is visible, it's also a sign of possible infection. Seropurulent drainage can also develop when an infection is clearing, but you should still have your doctor look it over to be sure.
Clean the wound and apply a dressing
When the wound has stopped bleeding, clean it and cover it with a dressing to help stop it becoming infected. To do this: wash and dry your hands thoroughly. clean the wound under drinking-quality running tap water – avoid using antiseptic as it may damage the skin and slow healing.
Surgical drains are implants that allow removal of fluid and/or gas from a wound or body cavity. This broad definition includes nasogastric tubes, urinary catheters, vascular access ports, and ventriculoperitoneal shunts.
Your surgeon will usually remove the bulb when drainage is below 25 ml per day for two days in a row. On average, JP drains can continue to drain for 1 to 5 weeks. Keep a log and bring it to the clinic for discussion so your surgical team can determine the best time to remove the drain.
You also may see some clear fluid oozing from the wound. This fluid helps clean the area. Blood vessels open in the area, so blood can bring oxygen and nutrients to the wound. Oxygen is essential for healing.
Vaginal discharge that is chunky, foamy or accompanied by itching and changes in color may mean you have an infection. Color: Vaginal discharge is healthy if it's clear, milky white or off-white. Dark yellow, brown, green or grey discharge may indicate an infection or other issue.
An infected wound can produce a yellowish, bad-smelling fluid called pus. When fluid seeps from a wound, it is called wound drainage.
If the seroma is large in size, the area surrounding it may become inflamed and painful. If the seroma becomes infected, it may appear red and feel very tender and warm to the touch. Infected seromas often lead to the formation of an abscess, or a collection of pus.
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.
Symptoms of Wound Infections
Pus or cloudy fluid is draining from the wound. Pimple. A pimple or yellow crust has formed on the wound. Soft Scab.
Redness. The area may be swollen, sore, and red in color right after you've sustained your injury. This is normal as blood is being sent to the area to supply oxygen and other nutrients for healing. But if the wound is still red and swollen after five days, it's a sign that your body is not healing correctly.
Evidence indicates that if a wound is not allowed to drain freely, blood, body fluids, pus, and necrotic material will collect in the wound, providing a growth medium for microorganisms. Surgical wound drainage is recognized as a key element in facilitating the healing process.
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.
Healthy exudate is usually clear and amber-coloured. Variations from this may be due to a variety of factors as indicated in Table 1. A change in the consistency of exudate can give significant clinical information. Increased protein content due to infection or inflammation may cause exudate to become thick and sticky.
In physiology, serous fluid or serosal fluid (originating from the Medieval Latin word serosus, from Latin serum) is any of various body fluids resembling serum, that are typically pale yellow or transparent and of a benign nature. The fluid fills the inside of body cavities.
A mild amount of drainage from the incision is normal. If the drainage fluid is thin, watery, and pinkish red, there is likely nothing to be concerned about. However, there are instances in which you should be concerned about drainage from your incision.
The reason for leaving the drain tubes in is to decrease ti chance of fluid collection (seroma). However, leaving the tubes in too long can increase the chance of infection at the tune sites and potentially into deeper space.