What Does Bilious Vomiting Indicate

Vomitus often has a slight yellow tinge, which is caused by reflux of small amounts of bile into the stomach. Vomitus is considered bilious if it has a green or bright yellow color, indicating larger amounts of bile in the stomach; bilious vomiting is often associated with intestinal obstruction, as described below.

What does bilious vomit suggest?

Bilious vomiting, with or without abdominal distention, is an initial sign of intestinal obstruction in newborns. A naso- or orogastric tube should be placed immediately to decompress the stomach.

Is bilious vomiting an emergency?

Background: Bilious vomiting in the newborn is an urgent condition that frequently requires neonatal and paediatric surgical involvement. Investigations involve abdominal X-ray and contrast imaging in most cases.