Oliguria: what you're going to do when you're called to the ward to see someone with low urine output

"Doctor, Mr Jones's urine output has been low for the last 3 hours, can you come to review him please?" This is a common call to trainees on surgical wards. But what is a low urine output, why is is low and what are you going to do?
In the second in their series on common problems on the ward facing FY1/2 and core trainees (interns and junior residents), Jennifer Murphy and Daniel Couch take you through definitions of adequate and poor urine output, causes and management of the problem so that you'll know what to do when you're called. Essential listening for medical students and trainees in surgery alike, this will be one of the most useful 10 minutes you can spend listening.
Jennifer Murphy and Daniel Couch are trainees in Surgery in the East Midlands School of Surgery, UK