While performing nursing care for a patient with a crush injury to the left leg, you note tea colored urine. What is an appropriate urine output for this patient?

While performing nursing care for a patient with a crush injury to the left leg, you note tea colored urine. What is an appropriate urine output for this patient?

• A. 20 ml/h
• B. 30 ml/h
• C. 45 ml/h
• D. 60 ml/h

Answer: (C)

Monitoring urine output after a crush injury with tea-colored urine focuses on preventing kidney injury from rhabdomyolysis. Tea-colored urine suggests myoglobin release from damaged muscle, which can clog kidneys and cause acute kidney injury if urine flow is too low. The aim is to maintain an adequate urine output—roughly 0.5 to 1 mL per kilogram per hour. For an average adult, that translates to about 30–60 mL per hour. A target around 45 mL/h meets this guideline, providing enough flow to clear myoglobin without requiring maximal diuresis. Values like 20 or 30 mL/h fall below the recommended minimum for rhabdomyolysis management and could allow kidney injury to progress. A value of 60 mL/h is acceptable but not necessary; 45 mL/h best matches the standard target range and demonstrates appropriate renal protection in this context.

Monitoring urine output after a crush injury with tea-colored urine focuses on preventing kidney injury from rhabdomyolysis. Tea-colored urine suggests myoglobin release from damaged muscle, which can clog kidneys and cause acute kidney injury if urine flow is too low. The aim is to maintain an adequate urine output—roughly 0.5 to 1 mL per kilogram per hour. For an average adult, that translates to about 30–60 mL per hour. A target around 45 mL/h meets this guideline, providing enough flow to clear myoglobin without requiring maximal diuresis.

Values like 20 or 30 mL/h fall below the recommended minimum for rhabdomyolysis management and could allow kidney injury to progress. A value of 60 mL/h is acceptable but not necessary; 45 mL/h best matches the standard target range and demonstrates appropriate renal protection in this context.