A 53 y.o. patient has undergone a partial gastrectomy for adenocarcinoma of the stomach. An NG tube is in place and is connected to low continuous suction. During the immediate postoperative period, you expect the gastric secretions to be which color?
A. Brown
B. Clear
C. Red
D. Yellow
Correct Answer: C. Red
Normally, drainage is bloody for the first 24 hours after a partial gastrectomy; then it changes to brown-tinged and then to yellow or clear. Drainage will be bloody for the first 12 hours, and then should clear and turn greenish. Continued or recurrent bleeding suggests complications. A decline in output may reflect the return of GI function.
Option A: This tube will be set to suction and will drain out brownish-colored stomach acid. When it runs from brown to light green to clear, this is an indication that things are moving through the stomach and feedings may be possible.
Option B: Gastric aspirate is usually cloudy and green, tan or off-white, or brown. Intestinal aspirate is generally clear and yellow to bile-colored. Pleural fluid is pale yellow and serous; tracheobronchial secretions are usually tan or off-white mucus.
Option D: Normal color of gastric drainage is light yellow to green in color due to the presence of bile. Bloody drainage may be expected after gastric surgery but must be monitored closely. The presence of coffee-ground type drainage may indicate bleeding.
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