Anuria results in the complete absence of urine excretion. This may be due to blockage of the renal ducts, a functional impairment of the renal system, or even as a result of dehydration of the body. The management of anuria must be rapid.

Anuria is a failure to eliminate urine from the body.

This damage results, in most cases, from renal failure. Indeed, the urinary system (made up of the kidneys, ureters, gall bladder and urethra), allows the elimination of organic waste from the body. The kidneys have in particular an important role of filter, making it possible to eliminate organic waste from the blood, by the formation of urine. The latter then passes through the ureters, into the gallbladder and then into the urethra. A deficiency in this process of eliminating waste from the body can lead to the absence of urine formation, and therefore to anuria.

Anuria is a medical emergency because it can have serious consequences for the patient, even be life-threatening.

The main cause of anuria is related to a deficiency in the renal system.

Acute kidney disease, or reduced glomerular filtration capacity of the kidneys, is a common cause. Renal failure is itself caused by an obstruction of the circulating ducts in the kidneys, or by pathologies impacting the renal system.

A distinction is made between anuria of functional origin (the cause of which is associated with an abnormality in the functioning of the renal system), and anuria by obstruction (caused by a blockage in the renal ducts, allowing the filtration of blood and the urine production).

Kidney failure can also be caused by dehydration of the body, no longer allowing the excretion of waste produced by it.

The people most at risk of anuria are patients with renal impairment, or other pathologies whose effects may be associated with a possible auric risk.

Individuals subjected to dehydration are also at high risk of developing anuria.

Complications from anuria can be more or less serious.

The first complication relates to an accumulation of waste not excreted within the body. This waste passing through the blood is therefore highly likely to end up in other organs, especially vital ones.

The diagnosis and management of anuria must be effective as soon as possible, in order to limit these risks of complication and in particular the risk to life for the patient.

The first clinical signs of anuria correspond to a decrease in the abundance of the need to urinate, or even in the complete absence of these needs.

Swelling of the bladder as well as pelvic pain may be characteristic symptoms.

The bladder palpation as well as the rectal touch make it possible to confirm, or invalidate, this first clinical diagnosis.

The main risk factors for anuria are:

• the presence of underlying kidney disease
• the presence of a pathology, the side effects of which may be associated with damage to the renal system
• dehydration, more or less important.

Regular and adequate hydration is the first way to prevent anuria. In particular, it is advisable to drink between 1,5 L and 2 L of water per day and per person. This volume is to be adapted in particular according to the seasonality and the daily physical activity of the individual.

Obstructed anuria is the most common form. In this context, the management of such an attack is based on the placement of a urinary catheter, making it possible to face the obstacle in question and to eliminate the waste accumulated within the organism.

When it comes to anuria of functional origin, and therefore a deficiency in the capacities of waste elimination by the kidneys, an emergency dialysis is necessary. This intervention makes it possible, by an automatic system, to filter the blood and extract waste, a role initially intended for the kidneys.