Following gallbladder surgery, a patient’s T-tube is draining dark green fluid. What action is appropriate?

• A. Place the patient on bed rest.
• B. Notify the patient’s surgeon.
• C. Document the color and amount of drainage.
• D. Irrigate the T-tube with sterile normal saline.

Answer: (C)

After gallbladder surgery with a T-tube, drainage from the tube reflects bile flowing from the biliary tract. Recording the drainage color and amount is essential because it provides a baseline and helps detect changes over time that could indicate problems such as obstruction or leakage. Dark green drainage is typical bile, so documenting it confirms normal progression. Routine actions like bed rest or irrigating the tube aren’t indicated for this finding, and you would only notify the surgeon if drainage changes suggest a complication (for example, bright red blood, foul-smelling or purulent drainage, a sudden drop or cessation in output, or signs of distress).