Oliguria
Oliguria or hypouresis is the low output of urine specifically more than 80 ml/day but less than 400ml/day.[1] The decreased output of urine may be a sign of dehydration, kidney failure, hypovolemic shock, hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome (HHNS), multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, urinary obstruction/urinary retention, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), pre-eclampsia, and urinary tract infections, among other conditions.
| Oliguria | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Hypouresis |
| Specialty | Urology |
Beyond oliguria is anuria, which represents an absence of urine, clinically classified as below 80 or 100 ml/day.[1]
The term oliguria is derived from oligo-meaning "small, little," + -uria, from the Greek word ouron, meaning "urine".[2]
Definition
Oliguria is defined as a urine output that is less than 1 mL/kg/h in infants,[3] less than 0.5 mL/kg/h in children,[3] and less than 400 mL[3] or 500 mL[4] per 24h in adults - this equals 17 or 21 mL/hour. For example, in an adult weighing 70 kg it equals 0.24 or 0.3 mL/hour/kg. Alternatively, however, the value of 0.5 mL/kg/h is commonly used to define oliguria in adults as well.[4]
Diagnostic approach
Perform ultrasound examination of the kidney to rule out obstructive processes.
The mechanisms causing oliguria can be categorized globally in three different categories:
- Prerenal: in response to hypoperfusion of the kidney (e.g. as a result of dehydration by poor oral intake, cardiogenic shock, diarrhea, G6PD deficiency, massive bleeding or sepsis)
- Renal: due to kidney damage (severe hypoperfusion, rhabdomyolysis, medication)
- Postrenal: as a consequence of obstruction of the urine flow (e.g. enlarged prostate, tumour compression urinary outflow, expanding hematoma or fluid collection)
Postoperative oliguria
Patients usually have a decrease in urine output after a major operation that may be a normal physiological response to:
- fluid/ blood loss – decreased glomerular filtration rate secondary to hypovolemia and/or hypotension
- response of adrenal cortex to stress -increase in aldosterone (Na and water retention) and antidiuretic hormone (ADH) release
Babies
Oliguria, when defined as less than 1 mL/kg/h, in infants is not attributed to kidney failure.[5]
See also
References
- Boon et al, Davidson's Principles & Practice of Medicine (20th Ed), p475
- "Oliguria | Origin and meaning of oliguria by Online Etymology Dictionary". www.etymonline.com. Retrieved 2020-03-02.
- Klahr S, Miller S (1998). "Acute oliguria". N Engl J Med. 338 (10): 671–5. doi:10.1056/NEJM199803053381007. PMID 9486997. Free Full Text.
- Merck manuals > Oliguria Last full review/revision March 2009 by Soumitra R. Eachempati
- Arant B (1987). "Postnatal development of renal function during the first year of life". Pediatr Nephrol. 1 (3): 308–13. doi:10.1007/BF00849229. PMID 3153294.