A patient has a urine output of less than 100 mL in 24 hours. This condition is called:

Appeared in: NORCET 9 Mains - 2025

Explanation

Anuria is the medical term for the non-passage of urine, clinically defined as a urine output of less than 100 mL over a 24-hour period.
This condition signifies a severe and potentially life-threatening issue with the kidneys, such as end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or a complete obstruction of the urinary tract.
It represents a more severe state of renal failure compared to oliguria, which is a reduced urine output.

Option A: Nocturia refers to the need to wake up at night to urinate; it describes the timing and frequency of urination, not the total 24-hour volume.
Option C: Polyuria is the opposite of the condition described; it means excessive urination, typically defined as more than 2.5 to 3 liters per 24 hours.
Option D: Oliguria is a reduced urine output, but it is defined as less than 400 mL in 24 hours. The value given (less than 100 mL) meets the more specific and severe definition of anuria.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Terminology of urinary output volumes to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
Accurately identifying and documenting urine output is a fundamental nursing responsibility. Anuria is a critical finding that requires immediate physician notification and intervention to prevent irreversible kidney damage and life-threatening complications like hyperkalemia.
Nurses must be vigilant in monitoring hourly urine output in critically ill patients, as a decrease can be the first sign of developing acute kidney injury (AKI).
What if? If the patient's urine output was 350 mL in 24 hours, the correct term would be Oliguria. This still indicates a serious problem like acute kidney injury or dehydration, but it is considered less severe than Anuria. The nursing intervention would still involve close monitoring and reporting, but the urgency level is slightly different.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key clinical data in the question stem: 'urine output of less than 100 mL in 24 hours'.
This is a factual recall question that requires knowledge of specific medical terminology related to urine volume.
Recall the definitions for each of the options provided.
Compare the given value (less than 100 mL/24h) to the standard definitions: Anuria (<100 mL/24h), Oliguria (<400 mL/24h), Polyuria (>2500 mL/24h), and Nocturia (nighttime urination).
Select the term that precisely matches the clinical data presented in the question.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Terminology of urinary output volumes
Stem keywords: urine output, less than 100 mL, 24 hours
Lead-in keywords: This condition is called
Clinical cues: Urine output of less than 100 mL in 24 hours is a critical finding indicating severe renal impairment.

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E6 Medicine Davidson Principles Practice 24e p. 411-413

Practise the full NORCET 9 Mains - 2025

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.