Continuous Real-Time Urine Output Monitoring for Early Detection of Acute Kidney Injury

In critically ill patients, acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication. In some cases, oliguria may be the only sign verifying this condition. The consensus definitions of RIFLE and AKIN are based on changes in creatinine and urine output and define classes of severity within AKI. While meaningful change in serum creatinine is often not detectable until 48 h after deterioration in kidney function, urine output is a more rapid physiological parameter and detectable at the patient's bedside. Although urine output is a critical parameter in the intensive care unit, routine urine output measurements are performed manually. As a result, they may not be done timely and may be subject to inaccuracies due to human factors. The URINFO(center dot) system is an innovative digital urine meter that provides continuous minute-to-minute monitoring of urine output, thereby enhancing kidney monitoring and the acquisition of more reliable urine output information in real-time. Consequently, monitoring of urine output with URINFO may enable rapid therapeutic interventions and can be incorporated into patient data systems, thereby improving therapy management. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel