Wound exudate (e. vulnerale) is a liquid that is released from a wound during inflammation. It contains fibrin, leukocytes, erythrocytes and necrotic tissue.
Exudate plays an important role in wound healing. In the initial phase of inflammation, it prevents infection and helps cleanse the wound of dead cells and tissues. Later, the exudate stimulates the formation of granulation tissue and the growth of blood vessels for better blood supply to the healing wound.
Abundant formation of exudate may indicate a severe inflammatory process or infection of the wound. Therefore, it is important to monitor the amount and nature of wound fluid released when treating wounds. If necessary, exudate is removed by draining or washing the wound.