Serous Drainage

Serous drainage is nothing but one of the fluids which comes out when there is an incision on the skin or a wound starts healing. Serous is a liquid which is produced by the body and it helps in the healing process of a wound. It helps in diluting the toxins and other harmful products produced by bacteria and dead cells. Moreover, it's the serous fluid which helps in carrying the leukocytes and plasma protein to the site of injury. Serous drainage can be a serious problem if it persists after an incision has been stitched after an operation.

Serous Drainage Definition

The term 'serous' means, producing or containing serum. When you say serous drainage, it means serum coming out from the injured part, say a cavity or an incision. Serum is nothing but a clear watery fluid. There are four different kinds of fluid which comes out when any part of the body is injured, or when there's a surgery. The coming out of each of these fluids indicate that a particular process is taking place, besides suggesting whether the body is healing itself properly. It also points out if there is anything which prevents proper healing.

Serous Drainage from Wound

Whenever there's a wound, the main types of fluid which comes out includes purulent or pus drainage, pink or white sero-sanguineous drainage, serous or clear drainage, and bloody or sanguineous drainage.

Purulent drainage, also called pus drainage, is a light brown, green or yellow colored fluid which comes out from a wound accompanied with a characteristic smell of a wound. It's usually not normal when there is an incision or wound, and it may indicate that the body is infected by some outside body. This may be accompanied by warmth, redness and swelling. If there is a pus drainage, you need to consult your doctor immediately.

A pink or white sero-sanguineous drainage is quite common during the initial phase of the healing process. Depending on the amount of fluid drained, it may indicate that the wound has still not healed properly and the health care provider will take action accordingly.

Depending on how severe the wound is, the amount of serous drainage would vary. It's normal during the early phases of healing that serous fluid to come out, but the amount should reduce over time.It remains colorless irrespective of the amount given out by the body.

Whenever the wound is fresh, it gives out a bloody or sanguineous drainage which indicates that the injury is still active and has not healed enough. Whenever there is an injury or an incision, blood rushes to that area, so that the healing process can start. After an incision or surgery, there may still be bloody drainage from the area. However, in some rare cases, large amounts of blood may come out, and if that's the case, medical attention would be needed immediately.

Your doctor will give you instructions on the things which you should dos and those which you should not, and these instructions should be followed if you want the wound to heal soon enough. Moreover, he would provide you with instructions on the things to expect during the healing process. Some of the most common signs of serous drainage are fever, swelling, increased warmth, tenderness, large blood clots and blood coming out from that area.

So, serous drainage can be a serious medical condition and if immediate medical care is not taken. You need to consult your doctor if you find anything wrong and make sure that you follow all the instructions given.