Addendum
========


An Eletter published in response to *Green for danger! Intestinal malrotation and volvulus*1 highlights a recent *BMJ* publication2 that explored the perceptions of nurses, postnatal midwives, parents and GPs, regarding the colour of bile stained vomit. The study concluded that there is no clear consensus on the colour of bilious vomiting, with many respondents unaware that green vomit indicates bile. The authors also point out that yellow vomiting in babies should not be disregarded as some of their patients with yellow vomit were found to have bowel obstruction.

In summary: it is more informative to ask about the colour of the vomit rather than whether it contained bile. Also, it is not only green for danger, but sometimes yellow too.

## References

1.  **Williams H**. Green for danger! Intestinal malrotation and volvulus. Arch Dis Child Ed Pract2007;92:ep87–91.
    
    

2.  **Walker GM**, Neilson A, Young P, *et al*. Colour of bile vomiting in intestinal obstruction in the newborn: a questionnaire study. BMJ2006;332:1363–5.
    
    [Abstract/FREE Full Text](http://ep.bmj.com/lookup/ijlink/YTozOntzOjQ6InBhdGgiO3M6MTQ6Ii9sb29rdXAvaWpsaW5rIjtzOjU6InF1ZXJ5IjthOjQ6e3M6ODoibGlua1R5cGUiO3M6NDoiQUJTVCI7czoxMToiam91cm5hbENvZGUiO3M6MzoiYm1qIjtzOjU6InJlc2lkIjtzOjEzOiIzMzIvNzU1NC8xMzYzIjtzOjQ6ImF0b20iO3M6MjQ6Ii9lZHByYWN0LzkyLzUvZXAxNTguYXRvbSI7fXM6ODoiZnJhZ21lbnQiO3M6MDoiIjt9)