What should a nurse report regarding urine output after abdominal surgery?

After abdominal surgery, the nurse should be particularly vigilant about monitoring urine output, as it can be an important indicator of renal function and fluid balance. An output less than 30 mL/hour is generally considered a sign of potential acute kidney injury or dehydration. This threshold is commonly used in clinical practice to assess renal perfusion and fluid status, where persistent low output may warrant further evaluation and intervention.

A urine output that consistently falls below this level suggests that the kidneys may not be filtering properly or that the patient may be experiencing complications such as hypovolemia or obstruction. Therefore, reporting this finding is crucial for timely medical intervention, which can help prevent more serious complications following surgery.

While urine output greater than 60 mL/hour is typically considered adequate and does not usually require reporting, increased urinary frequency can be more variable and may not indicate a problem unless it is accompanied by other concerning symptoms. Similarly, having no urine output for 12 hours can also be serious but is less frequently observed unless accompanied by the other indicators of decline in kidney function. Hence, the most critical aspect to report is urine output lower than 30 mL/hour.