What causes Serosanguineous drainage?
Causes of serosanguineous drainage If a wound gives off serosanguineous discharge, it may be due to damaged capillaries. This is very common in wounds with larger surface areas that need their dressings cleaned.
What are the four types of wound drainage?
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.
What color should wound VAC drainage be?
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). The amount of drainage is generally documented as absent, scant, minimal, moderate, large, or copious.
Why is my incision leaking clear fluid?
If the drainage is thin and clear, it’s serum, also known as serous fluid. This is typical when the wound is healing, but the inflammation around the injury is still high. A small amount of serous drainage is normal. Excessive serous fluid could be a sign of too much unhealthy bacteria on the surface of the wound.
Does wound drainage mean infection?
Wound drainage with a foul odor in and of itself does not indicate infection. All wound drainage contains bacteria that feed off byproducts in the drainage, and this activity produces an odor.
What does serosanguinous drainage look like in blood?
Serosanguinous drainage. Serosanguinous drainage is thin, like water. It usually has a light red or pink tinge, though it may look clear in some cases. Its appearance depends on how much clotted red blood is mixed with serum.
When does sanguineous drainage occur in a wound?
Sanguineous drainage refers to the leakage of fresh blood from an open wound. This type of drainage is bright red in color and has a syrup-like consistency. It usually appears during the inflammatory stage of the healing process, during which a small amount of blood may leak from deep wounds of full or partial thickness.
When to seek medical attention for serous drainage?
Anyone who is uncertain about the severity of a wound should seek medical attention. 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.
What is the difference between serum and serosanguinous fluids?
Serum is a clear liquid made of plasma, easily distinguishable from red blood cells. Serosanguinous fluids are composed of clotted or diluted red blood cells mixed with serum, usually leaving a body from a wound or sampled from one.