What is the minimum value of urinary output per hour that is considered normal before a nurse?

Definition

Decreased urine output means that you produce less urine than normal. Most adults make at least 500 mL of urine in 24 hours (a little over 2 cups).

Alternative Names

Oliguria

Causes

Common causes include:

  • Dehydration from not drinking enough fluids and having vomiting, diarrhea, or fever
  • Total urinary tract blockage, such as from an enlarged prostate
  • Medicines such as anticholinergics and some antibiotics

Less common causes include:

  • Blood loss
  • Severe infection or other medical condition that leads to shock

Home Care

Drink the amount of fluid your health care provider recommends.

Your provider may tell you to measure the amount of urine you produce.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

A large decrease in urine output may be a sign of a serious condition. In some cases, it can be life threatening. Most of the time, urine output can be restored with prompt medical care.

Contact your provider if:

  • You notice that you are producing less urine than usual.
  • Your urine looks much darker than usual.
  • You are vomiting, have diarrhea, or have a high fever and cannot get enough fluids by mouth.
  • You have dizziness, lightheadedness, or a fast pulse with decreased urine output.

What to Expect at Your Office Visit

Your provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions such as:

  • When did the problem start and has it changed over time?
  • How much do you drink each day and how much urine do you produce?
  • Have you noticed any change in urine color?
  • What makes the problem worse? Better?
  • Have you had vomiting, diarrhea, fever, or other symptoms of illness?
  • What medicines do you take?
  • Do you have a history of kidney or bladder problems?

Tests that may be done include:

  • Abdominal ultrasound
  • Blood tests for electrolytes, kidney function, and blood count
  • CT scan of the abdomen (done without contrast dye if your kidney function is impaired)
  • Renal scan
  • Urine tests, including tests for infection
  • Cystoscopy

Images

References

Emmett M, Fenves AV, Schwartz JC. Approach to the patient with kidney disease. In: Skorecki K, Chertow GM, Marsden PA, Taal MW, Yu ASL, eds. Brenner and Rector's The Kidney. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 25.

Molitoris BA. Acute kidney injury. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 112.

Riley RS, McPherson RA. Basic examination of urine. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 23rd ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2017:chap 28.

Reviewed By: 

Sovrin M. Shah, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Urology, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin in Acute Kidney Injury

Konstantinos Makris, Nikolaos Kafkas, in Advances in Clinical Chemistry, 2012

5.1 Urine Output

Urine output is a commonly measured parameter of kidney function in AKI. Following of urine output can be advantageous because it is a dynamic gage of kidney function and is measured continuously. Urine output can be a more sensitive barometer for changes in renal hemodynamics than biochemical markers of solute clearance. Dynamic changes to urine output have been integrated into the Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss and End-stage renal disease (RIFLE) classification of AKI [15]. However, the urine output is also of limited sensitivity and specificity, with patients capable of developing severe AKI, as detected by a markedly elevated serum creatinine, while maintaining normal urine output (i.e., nonoliguric AKI). Because nonoliguric AKI has been described as having a better outcome than oliguric AKI, urine output is frequently used to differentiate AKI; however, the value of this distinction is questionable and can be frequently negated by the use of diuretics [16]. Oliguria has classically been defined as urine output of approximately < 5 ml/kg/day or 0.5 ml/kg/h.

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URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780123943835000126

Renal Toxicology

B. Bikbov, ... G. Remuzzi, in Comprehensive Toxicology, 2010

7.10.2.1.1 Volume of diuresis

Urine output is one of the most easily measured parameters and as such is an important indicator of renal function used in the modern classification of AKI (Bellomo et al. 2004). Urine output may be a more sensitive index of changes in renal hemodynamics than biochemical markers of solute clearance (Bagshaw and Gibney 2008). However, urine output reflects both glomerular and tubular function. Moreover, it has insufficient sensitivity and specificity as a marker of renal function in patients with AKI due to impaired free water and solute excretion. In those with severe AKI, urine output could be normal or even elevated (Bagshaw and Gibney 2008).

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URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780080468846008113

Renal Function and Anesthesia

James Duke MD, MBA, in Anesthesia Secrets (Fourth Edition), 2011

13 Discuss the usefulness of urine output in assessing renal function

Urine output is easily measured through insertion of an indwelling Foley catheter and connection to a urometer. A daily output of 400 to 500 ml of urine is required to excrete obligatory nitrogenous wastes. In adults an inadequate urine output (oliguria) is often defined as <0.5 ml/kg/hr. GFR is decreased by the effects of anesthesia, sympathetic activity, hormonal influences, and redistribution of blood away from outer cortical nephrons. Invariably urine output decreases as blood pressure falls; thus perioperative oliguria is not uncommon, is usually prerenal in origin, and is not a reflection of ARF. A normal urine output does not rule out renal failure.

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URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780323065245000453

The Glomerulus: Mechanisms and Patterns of Injury☆

B. Bikbov, ... G. Remuzzi, in Reference Module in Biomedical Sciences, 2014

Volume of diuresis

Urine output is one of the most easily measured parameters and as such is an important indicator of renal function used in the modern classification of AKI (Bellomo et al., 2004). Urine output may be a more sensitive index of changes in renal hemodynamics than biochemical markers of solute clearance (Bagshaw and Gibney, 2008). However, urine output reflects both glomerular and tubular function. Moreover, it has insufficient sensitivity and specificity as a marker of renal function in patients with AKI due to impaired free water and solute excretion. In those with severe AKI, urine output could be normal or even elevated (Bagshaw and Gibney, 2008).

Read full chapter

URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B978012801238302050X

Assessment of Cardiovascular Function

Melvin C. Almodovar, ... John R. Charpie, in Pediatric Critical Care (Fourth Edition), 2011

Urine Output

Urine output generally reflects CO, but oliguria may occur in the first 24 hours after open heart surgery, especially in neonates, even in the context of good CO and blood pressure. It is therefore important to consider urine output in the context of other indicators of organ perfusion, and not as an isolated variable. It should also be noted that the kidneys are quite sensitive to perfusion pressure and that good systemic blood flow coupled with low systemic arterial pressure (due to low SVR) may adversely affect urine output more than other measures of tissue perfusion.

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URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780323073073100229

Cardiovascular Compromise in the Preterm Infant During the First Postnatal Day

Martin Kluckow, Istvan Seri, in Hemodynamics and Cardiology (Third Edition), 2019

Urine Output

Following urine output is useful in the assessment of cardiovascular well-being in the adult; however, the immature renal tubule in VLBW infants is inefficient at concentrating the urine and therefore has an impaired capacity to appropriately adjust urine osmolality and flow in the face of high serum osmolality.74 As a result, even if the glomerular filtration rate is decreased markedly, there can be little change in urine output. In addition, the significant physiological decrease in urine output immediately after delivery further compromises our ability to appropriately assess the adequacy of urine output in the neonate. Finally, accurate measurement of urine output is not easy in VLBW infants, generally requiring collection via a urinary catheter or via a collection bag, both techniques being invasive with significant potential complications, and thus infrequently done in regular clinical practice.

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URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780323533669000260

Cardiovascular Compromise in the Newborn Infant

Istvan Seri, Barry Markovitz, in Avery's Diseases of the Newborn (Ninth Edition), 2012

Low Urine Output and Hyperkalemia

Urine output is a frequently utilized clinical measure to assess renal perfusion and function. However, because urine output is low during the first postnatal day as a result of delivery-associated increases in stress hormones (catecholamines, vasopressin, renin-angiotensin) causing renal vasoconstriction and increased tubular reabsorption of sodium and water, its value in assessing compensated shock during the transitional period is limited. After the first 2 to 3 days, however, a decrease in urine output may be the earliest clinical sign of compensated shock in neonates of all gestational ages. In addition, a strong relationship has been documented in very preterm infants between low SVC flow and subsequent low urine output and hyperkalemia (Kluckow and Evans, 2001). However, because hyperkalemia may occur in the very preterm neonate without oliguria (i.e., nonoliguric hyperkalemia of the extremely preterm neonate) (Vemgal and Ohlsson, 2007), and because there could be other causes of hyperkalemia (acidosis), hyperkalemia alone should not be used as a measure of poor systemic perfusion.

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URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9781437701340100514

Cardiovascular Compromise in the Newborn

Shahab Noori, ... Istvan Seri, in Avery's Diseases of the Newborn (Tenth Edition), 2018

Low Urine Output and Hyperkalemia

Urine output is a frequently used clinical measure to assess renal perfusion and function. However, because urine output is low during the first postnatal day as a result of delivery-associated increases in the levels of stress hormones (catecholamines, vasopressin, renin–angiotensin) causing renal vasoconstriction and increased tubular reabsorption of sodium and water, its value in assessing compensated shock during the transitional period is limited. After the first 2 to 3 days, however, a decrease in urine output may be the earliest clinical sign of compensated shock in neonates of all gestational ages. In addition, in very preterm infants a strong relationship has been documented between low SVC flow and subsequent low urine output and hyperkalemia (Kluckow and Evans, 2001). However, because hyperkalemia may occur in the very preterm neonate without oliguria (i.e., nonoliguric hyperkalemia of the extremely preterm neonate) (Vemgal and Ohlsson, 2007), and because there could be other causes of hyperkalemia (acidosis), hyperkalemia alone should not be used as a measure of poor systemic perfusion.

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URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780323401395000516

Nephrology

Sharma S. Prabhakar M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.P., F.A.S.N., in Medical Secrets (Fifth Edition), 2012

14 Define “oliguria.”

A urine volume that is inadequate for the normal excretion of the body's metabolic waste products. Because the daily load of metabolic products amounts to approximately 600 mOsm and the maximal urine concentrating ability of the human kidney is about 1200 mOsm/kgH2O, there is a minimal obligate urine volume of 500 mL/day for most people. Therefore, a 24-hour urine volume < 500 mL/day is said to represent oliguria. When associated with acute kidney injury (AKI), oliguria portends a poorer prognosis than does nonoliguric AKI.

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URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780323063982000096

Cardiovascular Monitoring in Noncardiac Surgery

Gerard R. ManeckeJr MD, Timothy M. Maus MD, in Essentials of Cardiac Anesthesia for Noncardiac Surgery, 2019

Urine Output, pH, Base Deficit, and Lactate

Urine output can be used as an index of cardiovascular stability, but in the perioperative period, it is neither sensitive nor specific. Oliguria and polyuria can be multifactorial, with a plethora of potential causes for each. Oliguria may result from hypovolemia, azotemia, heart failure, perioperative stress hormone release, patient positioning (e.g., Trendelenburg), mechanical obstruction, and surgical interruption of the urinary tract. Polyuria can result from osmotic diuretic administration, hyperglycemia, and diabetes insipidus. Thus urine output must be interpreted in the context of all other events occurring in the perioperative period, not as a primary index of cardiovascular performance or volume status. Similarly, blood pH, base deficit, and serum lactate require interpretation using other clinical parameters. There are many potential reasons for acidosis, high base deficit, and accumulating lactate, and their presence should prompt further investigation. Their presence should not, however, cause the provider to assume that hypovolemia is their cause. Like urine output, they should be used as adjuncts in understanding the patients' circulatory condition.

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URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780323567169000096

What is the minimum value of urinary output per hour that is considered normal before a nurse should?

What's the minimum urine output per hour? A healthy urine output for an adult person should be greater than or equal to 0.5 ml/kg/hr.

What is the minimum normal urine output?

Normal Results The normal range for 24-hour urine volume is 800 to 2,000 milliliters per day (with a normal fluid intake of about 2 liters per day).

What is normal urine output per hour?

Normal urine output is defined as 1.5 to 2 mL/kg per hour

What is normal urine output Nclex?

Excessive and prolonged polyuria can lead to dehydration which can cause fluid and electrolyte imbalances in the client. The normal urinary output is about 2 liters per day.