What it means
The word means both the fluid and the act of draining. Wound drainage is described by type: serous (clear, watery), sanguineous (bright red, bloody), serosanguineous (pink, thin) and purulent (thick, cloudy, yellow, green or tan, which suggests infection). Drains and tubes such as a chest tubechest toobA tube placed through the chest wall into the space around the lung to drain air, blood or fluid.Full entry or a surgical drain remove fluid so it does not collect.
For the nurse
Record the amount, color, thickness and smell, and empty and measure drains as ordered. Report sudden increases, bright red drainage, or a change to purulent or foul-smelling drainage.
In a chart
"JP drain emptied: 40 mL serosanguineous drainage."
At a glance
| Spanish | drenaje |
|---|---|
| Also written | drainages |
Related terms
secretion
A substance a gland or cell makes and releases, such as mucus, saliva, sweat or a hormone.
discharge
The release of a client from a hospital or care setting; also, fluid that flows out of a body part.
incision
A clean cut made through the skin and tissue during surgery.
chest tube
A tube placed through the chest wall into the space around the lung to drain air, blood or fluid.