Main types of exudate
- 1. Serosanguinous exudate The serosanguinous exudate is the most frequent. ...
- 2. Serous exudate The exudate from serous wounds is a clear fluid. ...
- 3. Bloody discharge The bloody exudate is a reddish liquid, more intense in color than the serosanguinous one. ...
- 4. Purulent exudate Exudate from purulent-type wounds appears thicker and more viscous. ...
- 5. Hemorrhagic exudate ...
- Serous – a clear, thin and watery plasma. ...
- Sanguinous – a fresh bleeding, seen in deep partial- and full-thickness wounds. ...
- Serosanguineous – thin, watery and pale red to pink in color.
- Seropurulent – thin, watery, cloudy and yellow to tan in color.
What is a serous exudate best described as?
a serous exudate is best described as: Watery, colorless exudate. a specific defense for the body is: sensitized T-lymphocytes. the systemic effects of severe inflammation includes which of the following? fatigue, anorexia and mild fever. In caring for a 3-year-old with pain, which assessment tool would be the most useful?
What's the difference between exudate and pus?
As nouns the difference between exudate and pus is that exudate is a fluid that has exuded from somewhere; especially one that has exuded from a pore of an animal or plant while pus is a whitish-yellow or yellow substance composed primarily of dead white blood cells and dead pyogenic bacteria; normally found in regions of bacterial infection.
Is fibrinous exudate an infection?
This kind of exudate is consistent with more severe infections, and is commonly referred to as pus. Fibrinous exudate is composed mainly of fibrinogen and fibrin. Subsequently, question is, what type of exudate indicates infection? Purulent In this case the root word is pus, meaning foul or corrupt. This type of exudate is indicative of infection.
What is serous exudate?
The specific types of exudate -- whether they are purulent, seropurulent or sanguinous -- indicates how the wound is progressing and healing. Serous Serous wound drainage looks clear or straw colored. This serous material arises from protein and fluid in the tissue.
How many types of exudate are there?
Types of Wound Exudate There are four types of wound drainage: serous, sanguineous, serosanguinous, and purulent.
What are examples of exudate?
Pus is an example of exudate found in infected wounds that also includes bacteria and high concentrations of white blood cells. Clear blister fluid is an example of an exudate that contains water (and solutes) together with some plasma proteins, but not many blood cells.
What are the 4 types of wound drainage?
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).
What type of exudate indicates infection?
Exudate that becomes a thick, milky liquid or a thick liquid that turns yellow, tan, gray, green, or brown is almost always a sign that infection is present. This drainage contains white blood cells, dead bacteria, wound debris, and inflammatory cells.
What are the 4 types of exudate?
Types of ExudateSerous – a clear, thin and watery plasma. ... Sanguinous – a fresh bleeding, seen in deep partial- and full-thickness wounds. ... Serosanguineous – thin, watery and pale red to pink in color.Seropurulent – thin, watery, cloudy and yellow to tan in color.More items...•
What color is serous exudate?
Serous drainage is a clear, thin, and watery exudate that typically appears during the inflammatory stage of wound healing.
What is the difference between exudate and drainage?
Wound drainage is a fluid produced from the blood vessels during the inflammatory phase of healing, which is similar to blood plasma. Exudate consists of a mixture of water, proteins, white blood cells, inflammatory mediators, and electrolytes, which play essential roles in wound healing.
What type of exudate contains pus?
Purulent or suppurative exudate consists of plasma with both active and dead neutrophils, fibrinogen, and necrotic parenchymal cells. This kind of exudate is consistent with more severe infections, and is commonly referred to as pus.
What are the 7 types wounds?
Types of WoundsPenetrating wounds. Puncture wounds. Surgical wounds and incisions. Thermal, chemical or electric burns. Bites and stings. Gunshot wounds, or other high velocity projectiles that can penetrate the body.Blunt force trauma. Abrasions. Lacerations. Skin tears.
What Colour should exudate be?
Exudate is usually amber or straw coloured, similar to plasma (Davies, 2012). Any change in colour can indicate a possible problem. Green usually indicates bacterial infection practice.
What is serous exudate?
Exudate terminology Serous—thin clear watery plasma (seen in partial thickness wounds/venous ulcerations). A moderate to heavy amount may indicate heavy bacteria level. This is normal in the first phases of wound healing.
What Colour is healthy exudate?
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.
How do you identify exudates?
To distinguish exudates from transudates if the patient's serum total protein is normal and the pleural fluid protein is less than 25g/L the fluid is a transudate. If the pleural fluid protein is greater than 35g/L the fluid is an exudate.
How would you describe a wound exudate?
Exudate is also known as 'wound fluid' or 'wound drainage'. When there is a break in the skin, an inflammatory response is initiated and the capillaries become more permeable. Serous fluid leaks out into the wound bed and forms the basis of exudate (World Union of Wound Healing Societies [WUWHS], 2007).
What is the difference between exudate and drainage?
Wound drainage is a fluid produced from the blood vessels during the inflammatory phase of healing, which is similar to blood plasma. Exudate consists of a mixture of water, proteins, white blood cells, inflammatory mediators, and electrolytes, which play essential roles in wound healing.
What is exudate in a wound?
Exudate consists of fluid and leukocytes that move to the site of injury from the circulatory system in response to local inflammation. This inflammatory response leads to blood vessel dilatation and increased permeability, resulting in increased production of exudate.
What is transudate fluid?
Transudate is a clear fluid with low protein concentration and a limited number of white blood cells. An imbalance between the hydrostatic and oncotic pressure within the capillaries causes a transudate effusion. Light’s criteria 1) can be used to determine if the fluid is an exudate versus transudate.
Why do we use alginates?
Alginates are highly absorbent and are indicated when a wound is very exudative. They release calcium ions, which help haemostasis so are useful applied to a surgical wound in a patient with excessive bleeding. In chronic wounds, the exudate combines with the alginate gel to form green or yellowish goo. The alginates are nonadherent unless the wound dries out. They can be soaked off to avoid unnecessarily debriding the wound.
What is the term for an alteration of the local inflammatory factors that precipitate a fluid accumulation?
An alteration of the local inflammatory factors that precipitate a fluid accumulation represents an exudative effusion. Exudate has a higher than normal protein content and may be cloudy due to increased numbers of white blood cells and is also called pus.
What is the fluid that leaks out of blood vessels into a body cavity or nearby tissues?
Exudate is fluid that leaks out of blood vessels into a body cavity or nearby tissues as a result of injury or inflammation. Exudate is made of cells, proteins, and solid materials. Exudate may ooze from cuts or from areas of infection or inflammation. An alteration of the local inflammatory factors that precipitate a fluid accumulation represents ...
Why does transudate leak out of blood vessels?
Transudate is fluid that leaks out of blood vessels into a body cavity or nearby tissues, due to an imbalance between the pressure within blood vessels (which drives fluid out) and the amount of protein in blood (which keeps fluid in). Transudate is a clear fluid with low protein concentration and a limited number of white blood cells. An imbalance between the hydrostatic and oncotic pressure within the capillaries causes a transudate effusion.
How long can you wear hydrophilic foam dressing?
In addition, they absorb mild to moderate wound exudate so they can be worn for three to seven days without changing. Hydrophilic foam dressings are permeable to oxygen and water vapour.
What is the color of serosanguineous exudate?
Serosanguineous exudate – thin, watery and pale red to pink in color.
Why is serosanguinous fluid pink?
Serosanguinous fluid appears pink due to a small number of blood cells mixing with serous drainage. “World Wide Wounds” describe a consistency of thin and watery for serosanguinous fluid. Serosanguinous fluid appears normally in the healing of wounds and is typically a pinkish color due to the yellow liquid combining with small blood droplets.
What is the name of the fluid that comes out of a wound when infection invades the area?
When the wound is infected, the volume of the purulent exudate increases. Purulent effluent refers to a thick yellow, gray or green drainage that comes out of a wound when infection invades the area. The fluid contains pathogenic microorganisms along with white cells, inflammatory cells and dead or dying bacteria.
What is purulent effluent?
Purulent effluent refers to a thick yellow, gray or green drainage that comes out of a wound when infection invades the area. The fluid contains pathogenic microorganisms along with white cells, inflammatory cells and dead or dying bacteria. When the wound is infected, the volume of the purulent exudate increases.
What is serous wound fluid?
Serous wound fluid occurs as a normal process of healing. Serous wound drainage looks clear or straw colored. The serous drainage supports the healing process and contains protein, electrolytes, sugar, white cells and some microorganisms.
What is serous drainage?
Serous wound drainage looks clear or straw colored. This serous material arises from protein and fluid in the tissue. At times, serous material will leak through swollen skin when a person suffers a critical illness. The serous drainage supports the healing process and contains protein, electrolytes, sugar, white cells and some microorganisms. Platelets and fibrin used in the clotting process appear in the fluid in the first 48 to 72 hours of formation of a wound to prevent bleeding. Serous wound fluid occurs as a normal process of healing.
What is sanguinous fluid?
Sanguinous. Sanguinous liquid means red drainage from trauma to a blood vessel that may occur with the cleaning of a wound or excessive movement of the individual with a wound immediately after a wound emerges. The consistency appears thin and watery with sanguinous fluid. Sanguinous represents an infrequent finding in a wound.
What does hemorrhaging mean?
Hemorrhaging indicates a leaking blood vessel putting out blood. The consistency is thicker than sanguinous fluid. This situation may constitute an emergency requiring a physician’s assistance to control bleeding if large amounts of blood flow from the wound site. Hemorrhaging represents an abnormal discovery in a wound.
What Do You Think?
When it comes to documenting exudate, do you see one type being identified more than others – like the well-known serosanguineous? And what about the amount of drainage – do you use the terms listed above, or does your clinic use percentages instead? We would love to hear how your facility typically documents exudate, and if you encounter any specific challenges or successes with identifying or treating wounds based on exudate. Please leave your comments below.
What are the different types of exudates?
First, let’s start with the types of exudate we most commonly see in our patients’ wounds. They are: 1 Serous – a clear, thin and watery plasma. It’s normal during the inflammatory stage of wound healing, and smaller amounts are considered normal. However, a moderate to heavy amount may indicate a high bioburden. 2 Sanguinous – a fresh bleeding, seen in deep partial- and full-thickness wounds. A small amount is normal during the inflammatory stage. 3 Serosanguineous – thin, watery and pale red to pink in color. 4 Seropurulent – thin, watery, cloudy and yellow to tan in color. 5 Purulent – a thick and opaque exudate that is tan, yellow, green or brown in color. It’s never normal in a wound bed, and is often associated with infection or high bacteria levels.
What is the difference between sanguinous and serosanguineous?
A small amount is normal during the inflammatory stage. Serosanguineous – thin, watery and pale red to pink in color. Seropurulent – thin, watery, cloudy and yellow to tan in color.
What is Wound Care Education Institute?
Wound Care Education Institute® provides online and onsite courses in the fields of Skin, Wound, Diabetic and Ostomy Management. Health care professionals who meet the eligibility requirements may sit for the prestigious WCC®, DWC® and OMS national board certification examinations through the National Alliance of Wound Care and Ostomy® (NAWCO®). For more information see wcei.net.
How much of a bandage is exudate?
Small or minimal amount on the dressing – exudate covers less than 25% of the bandage. Moderate amount – wound tissues are wet, and exudate involves 25% to 75% of the bandage. Large or copious amount – wound tissue is filled with fluid, and exudate covers more than 75% of the bandage.
What is the term for the drainage of wounds?
Ooze. Pus. Secretion. The drainage that seeps out of wounds can be called many things, but as wound care clinicians know, the technical term is exudate. This liquid, which is produced by the body in response to tissue damage, can tell us what we need to know about the wound. And while we want wounds to be moist, we don’t want them to be overly moist. Finding that balance can sometimes be a bit tricky – which is why it’s so important to know all about exudate.
What is a seropurulent?
Seropurulent – thin, watery, cloudy and yellow to tan in color.
What does hemorrhaging mean in medical terms?
Hemorrhaging simply indicates the leakage of the blood vessels putting out blood. It is important to note that the consistency is denser than sanguinous exudate. In such cases, emergency care is required to help control the bleeding if substantial blood flow occurs from the wound site. Remember that hemorrhaging indicates an abnormal discovery in a wound.
What is wound exudate?
Wound exudate is the drainage of liquid from open wounds in the body. It is important to note that this drainage comes from the liquid generated by the body as a response to tissue damage. When changing the dressings, the wound exudate should be checked for proper consistency, color, odor and quantity. The specific type of exudate indicates how the wound is progressing and healing.
Why is the exudate pink?
Serosanguinous wound exudate appears pink due to the presence of a small amount of blood cells with serous drainage. The consistency is thin and watery that appears normally in the healing of wounds and usually pinkish in color. This is due to the yellow liquid that combines with the small blood droplets.
What is wound exudate?
Wound exudate is a fluid of different colors and viscosities that is made up of different substances. The word exudate as such, refers to the fluid that leaks from the blood vessels. It is similar to plasma. That is, the liquid part of the blood, with a high concentration of proteins.
Why is serosanguinous exudate watery?
It has a fine, pinkish appearance and a watery consistency. The reason is that it contains small amounts of blood cells interspersed with serous fluid.
Why is wound exudate so unsightly?
Wound exudate can appear unsightly and even be worrisome in some cases. The reason is that it has a variable appearance, depending on how the injury is. Therefore, its characteristics can give a lot of clinical information.
What are the different types of exudate?
According explains one publication of Wound Source, there are 5 main types: serous, blood, serosanguinous, purulent and hemorrhagic. Each occurs more typically at different times in healing.
What are the components of wound exudate?
In the exudate of the wounds there are also cells of the immune system (leukocytes), proteolytic enzymes and inflammatory mediators.
What is the process of producing exudate?
The exudate of the wounds is produced by the inflammatory process that is triggered when an injury occurs. When there is an attack on the body, a series of substances are released that increase the permeability of the capillaries.
What happens when a wound is too thick?
The viscosity of the wound exudate is also decisive. When it is too viscous or thick it signals an infection and high protein content. However, if it is an aqueous liquid, the protein content is low.
What is the most common type of exudate that is seen in wounds?
Serosanguinous drainage is the most common type of exudate that is seen in wounds. It is thin, pink, and watery in presentation. Purulent drainage is milky, typically thicker in consistency, and can be gray, green, or yellow in appearance. If the fluid becomes very thick, this can be a sign of infection.
What happens if you don't manage exudate?
If there is not proper management of the exudate, then the high protease levels and low growth factor levels will negatively impact wound healing time.
Why do you need to change gauze?
Other considerations are the cost and frequency of dressing changes. When a patient is changing gauze four times a day due to exudate, it would be more beneficial for the patient and financial bottom line to use a foam dressing. Changing the dressing less allows the wound bed to be left undisturbed, which allows for the migration of new cells. When wound beds are left undisturbed in an optimal moist environment, they are able to heal at a faster rate. Changing dressings only when needed also causes fewer traumas to the periwound which can be due to adhesives or maceration damage. Negative pressure wound therapy, compression, and foam dressings can be helpful in managing exudate.
What is exudate in wounds?
Exudate is a byproduct of vasodilation during the inflammatory stage and in chronic wounds the drainage changes and contains proteolytic enzymes. Effective management of the exudate depends on the characteristics of the wound such as amount of exudate, location, and exudate composition. Chronic wounds often have bacteria, like pseudomonas or staphylococci, which inhibit new cell growth. In this case, cultures to combat the bacteria can be beneficial so that an accurate care plan can be initiated. This may include topical antimicrobials, topical antibiotics, antifungals, or oral/IV medications.
What are the different 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. Yet, if there is a large amount of serous drainage, it can be the result of a high bioburden count.
What is negative pressure wound therapy?
Negative pressure wound therapy, compression, and foam dressings can be helpful in managing exudate. Overall, it should be noted that the dressing selection should be based on the individual patient and wound characteristics.
Why change dressing less?
Changing the dressing less allows the wound bed to be left undisturbed, which allows for the migration of new cells. When wound beds are left undisturbed in an optimal moist environment, they are able to heal at a faster rate.
Introduction
When assessing and documenting a wound, it is important to note the amount and type of wound exudate (drainage). Using our senses is a large part of the initial wound assessment, followed by accurate documentation.
Common Colors and Consistencies of Wound Drainage
Serosanguineous: Serosanguineous drainage is typically seen in a normal, non-infected wound. It is made up of blood and serous fluid and is typically pink-red and thin. This drainage is common in many wounds. 1
A Few Tips When Documenting Wound Exudate
Remove the old dressing; note the drainage in the wound bed itself and on the old dressing when making an assessment (is the wound bed wet, dry, scabbed? How much drainage is present on the old dressing? Think percentages here).
Conclusion
Accurate and clear documentation is a key factor in appropriate wound assessment and treatment. Painting an accurate picture of what is going on with a particular wound and patient through documentation is important for many reasons.
