Wound Drainage Color Chart & Documentation

Accurate wound charting requires precise terminology based on the color and consistency of the drainage. Serous drainage is typically clear and watery; sanguineous is bright red and indicates fresh bleeding; serosanguineous is a pale pink or red mix; and purulent drainage is thick, opaque, and may be yellow, green, or brown, often signaling infection. Documentation should include the color, amount (scant, small, moderate, or large), and any associated odor to provide a complete clinical picture.

Using Aduvera to document these findings eliminates the need to recall specific descriptors from memory at the end of a shift. By recording the encounter, the AI captures the clinician's real-time observations of the wound bed and drainage. Clinicians then review the draft with per-segment citations, ensuring that the distinction between serosanguineous and purulent drainage is preserved exactly as observed before the note is moved to the EHR.