Postoperative urinalysis after kidney surgery shows which finding that requires notification of the primary health care provider?

• A. Acidic pH
• B. Glucose negative
• C. Bacteria negative
• D. Presence of large proteins

Answer: (D)

Postoperative urine monitoring looks for signs of complications from the kidney surgery. The presence of large proteins in the urine is a red flag because it means substantial protein leakage, which indicates that the kidney’s filtering barrier has been compromised or there is tubular injury. This can reflect renal trauma, inflammation, or a urinary tract issue related to the surgery, and it warrants prompt notification to the primary health care provider for further evaluation. Normal or routine findings like an acidic pH, glucose being negative, or bacteria being negative are less concerning in this context and do not by themselves indicate a complication needing urgent reporting.