After cholecystectomy with a T-tube, which drainage color indicates expected progression?

After cholecystectomy with a T-tube, which drainage color indicates expected progression?

• A. Light yellow
• B. Green-brown
• C. Clear
• D. Bright red

Answer: (B)

After cholecystectomy with a T-tube, what you want to see in the drainage is bile flowing through the tube. Bile pigments give a greenish to brown color, so green-brown drainage indicates bile is present and the duct is draining properly. This reflects the expected progression as healing occurs and the T-tube begins to carry bile. In contrast, bright red drainage suggests active bleeding, while clear or pale yellow drainage is more serous and not bile-containing. So the green-brown color best signals the expected biliary drainage through the T-tube.

After cholecystectomy with a T-tube, what you want to see in the drainage is bile flowing through the tube. Bile pigments give a greenish to brown color, so green-brown drainage indicates bile is present and the duct is draining properly. This reflects the expected progression as healing occurs and the T-tube begins to carry bile. In contrast, bright red drainage suggests active bleeding, while clear or pale yellow drainage is more serous and not bile-containing. So the green-brown color best signals the expected biliary drainage through the T-tube.