ABSTRACT
Oliguria occurs as a result of some kind of renal compromise. In most instances, this does not involve permanent damage to the renal parenchyma and is easily reversible with conservative interventions like fluid hydration. This chapter reviews the renal physiology in pregnancy, the definition and pathophysiology of oliguria, the differential diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) within the obstetric patient and its diagnostic workup, and the specific management approaches for its various etiologies. When approaching the differential diagnosis of oliguria, it is important to consider the gestational age at the time of presentation. The common causes of oliguria will vary depending on a patient's trimester. Thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura (TTP) and acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) are rare, but are severe causes of AKI in late pregnancy. Preeclampsia (PEC) encompasses a spectrum of diseases, but can generally be thought of as a new onset of elevated blood pressures and proteinuria after 20 weeks of gestation.
