Common Misdiagnoses of Anuria

Those who suffer anuria have lost the capacity to urinate and usually pass less than 50 milliliters of urine a day. Anuria is a key sign of renal failure or end stage renal disease. The condition may also result from obstruction in the kidneys from stones or a tumor. If left untreated, anuria may lead to uremia which is a condition where waste builds up in the blood.

About Uremia

Uremia can then lead to complications such as seizures, coma or even death. Acute anuria, where the production of urine levels off quickly, is a sign of sudden renal failure. Kidney failure may result from diabetes and high blood pressure, in addition to the aforementioned kidney stones and tumors. Acute renal failure may also point to conditions unrelated to the kidneys such as heart failure, infection or any other condition that may impede blood flow to the kidneys.

Because anuria is not a disease but a symptom, it is usually accompanied by other symptoms that point to an underlying condition. In cases of kidney failure, anuria will be accompanied by appetite loss, nausea, vomiting and general weakness. Diagnosis of anuria even as a symptom is pivotal to treating the underlying condition.

Diagnoses of Anuria

Diagnosis of anuria is a measure of urine output. Once anuria is determined, the physician should get a medical history in addition to a physical examination to determine the underlying cause of the condition. Treatment will be based on the underlying disease or disorder. Once the underlying disease or disorder is resolved, the anuria should also be resolved.

If the cause of the anuria is an obstruction, the treatment is generally an insertion of a catheter into the bladder. Another treatment is medication. Mannitol is used to increase the amount of water removed from the blood. This process substantially improves blood flow to the kidneys. However, mannitol should not be used in cases of renal failure. Other medications used are dextrose and dobutamine, which increase the flow of blood to the kidneys within 30 to 60 minutes. In severe cases, dialysis may be necessary.

Common Misdiagnoses of Anuria

Because of the possibility of uremia and the complications of more virulent underlying conditions, a proper diagnosis of anuria is pivotal to proper and timely treatment. Anuria should not be mistaken for oliguria, which is classified as an output below 300-500 milliliters a day. Just like anuria, oliguria may be a sign of renal failure. However, it may also be a sign of simple dehydration. If the doctor mistakes oliguria for anuria, certain treatments may exacerbate the condition. Primarily, medications such as mannitol should not be used in cases of dehydration. Additionally, the hidden causes of anuria, such as kidney stones and urinary tumors, may be misdiagnosed and not treated accordingly.

Talk with an Attorney

If your anuria was misdiagnosed or missed entirely and your underlying condition went untreated, you may have a case of medical malpractice. If so, you have a right to recover damages for the unnecessary medical costs and undue pain and suffering. Talk with an experienced medical malpractice attorney to discuss your case.