<300 ml of urine in 24 hr is known as?

Appeared in: ESIC Nursing Officer 2016 (Shift -2)

Explanation

Oliguria is the medical term for low urine output, specifically defined as less than 400 mL in a 24-hour period.
The patient's output of 300 mL is below the 400 mL threshold, which correctly classifies the condition as oliguria.
This finding is a significant indicator of dehydration, renal hypoperfusion, or impending acute kidney injury (AKI).

Option B: Anuria represents a more severe reduction in urine output, defined as less than 100 mL (or sometimes less than 50 mL) in 24 hours.
Option C: This term refers to the act of involuntary urination, commonly known as bedwetting. It describes a lack of bladder control, not the volume of urine produced.
Option D: This term is unrelated to the urinary system. It describes the involuntary passage of feces (soiling) in a person who is already toilet-trained.

Visual 1: Chart: Comparison of Urinary Output Volumes. A bar chart visually comparing the 24-hour urine volumes for Normal Output, Polyuria, Oliguria, and Anuria, with clear labels for the volume thresholds.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Terminology for abnormal urinary output volumes as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Accurate monitoring and documentation of urine output is a fundamental nursing responsibility to detect fluid imbalances and renal dysfunction at an early stage.
Oliguria is a critical warning sign that must be reported to the healthcare provider promptly, as it can be an early indicator of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI), which requires immediate intervention.
What if? If the patient's 24-hour urine output was 90 mL, the condition would be classified as Anuria, indicating a more critical state of renal failure requiring emergency assessment and intervention.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key information in the question: a specific urine volume (300 mL) over a specific time frame (24 hours).
Recognize that the question is asking for the correct medical term for this finding, which requires recalling definitions.
Recall the standard definitions for terms related to urine volume: Normal output is approximately 800-2000 mL/day.
Compare the given volume (300 mL) to the definitions for abnormal output: Oliguria is less than 400 mL/day, and Anuria is less than 100 mL/day.
Determine that 300 mL fits the definition of Oliguria.
Eliminate the other options by definition: Enuresis and Encopresis relate to incontinence (control), not volume, and are therefore incorrect.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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