What type of drainage indicates a fresh injury or bleeding?

Sanguineous drainage is characterized by a significant presence of red blood cells and is indicative of fresh bleeding or an injury. This type of drainage has a bright red color and often occurs immediately following trauma or surgical procedures, where blood is actively seeping from the site of injury.

In contrast, serous drainage is typically straw-colored and composed mainly of serum, which suggests inflammation rather than active bleeding. Purulent drainage, often thick and yellowish or greenish, contains pus and indicates infection rather than fresh bleeding. Serosanguineous drainage, which is pinkish due to a combination of clear liquid and some blood, indicates that bleeding has subsided somewhat, suggesting it is not fresh bleeding but rather an early stage of healing.

Understanding the characteristics of these various types of drainage is crucial for assessing the healing process and potential complications in tissue integrity.