Postoperative colostomy may show a discharge described as bowel sweat. Which term best describes this?

• A. Purulent drainage
• B. Clear serous drainage
• C. Mucus discharge
• D. Serosanguinous drainage

Answer: (D)

When caring for a healing ostomy, the appearance of drainage is used to gauge healing and potential complications. The description “bowel sweat” refers to serosanguinous drainage—thin, watery fluid that is pink to light red, containing a mix of serum and blood. This type is common in the early postoperative period as tissues begin to heal and capillaries leak slightly. It’s not infected-looking (which would be purulent, thick, and often foul-smelling) and not simply clear serous (which is pale and watery) or mucus (which tends to be thicker and mucous-y). So the best term for bowel sweat is serosanguinous drainage.