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Renal Biopsy

Renal Biopsy

Renal (kidney) biopsies are used to further evaluate a diagnosis of kidney disease. During a renal biopsy, the doctor removes a portion of tissue or cells from the kidney for closer examination. The procedure takes about an hour.

Your child may need to undergo a kidney biopsy to find the reason for the following conditions:

  • Hematuria. A condition when there is blood in the urine.
  • Proteinuria.A condition when there is an abnormal amount of protein in the urine.
  • Impaired kidney function. This is when the kidneys are not functioning properly.

Your child’s doctor may also recommend a renal biopsy to:

  • Diagnose a kidney problem that cannot otherwise be identified
  • Determine a treatment plan based on the kidney’s condition
  • Assess how quickly kidney disease is progressing
  • Determine the amount of damage to the kidney due to kidney disease or another disease
  • valuate the effectiveness of ongoing treatment for kidney disease
  • Assess the health of a transplanted kidney or find out why a transplanted kidney is not functioning properly

A kidney biopsy is an important procedure that can be used to evaluate kidney function and determine the best course of treatment for your child.

What to Expect

What to Expect

Your child will be hospitalized overnight for the procedure. Before the procedure, your child's nephrologist will discuss the risks with you in detail and inform you of any preoperative procedures—such as if your child can eat or drink before the biopsy. Be sure the doctor answers all of your questions about the biopsy during this discussion. You should also tell the doctor about any current medicines your child is taking or drug allergies.

You can expect the following during a renal biopsy:

  • Specialists will perform the renal biopsy in an operating room.
  • Your child will undergo sedation or anesthesia and will not remember the procedure or feel any pain.
  • During the biopsy, your child will lie on his or her stomach so that the kidneys are positioned near the surface of the back.
  • The doctor will mark the biopsy needle entry site, sanitize the area and inject a local anesthetic.
  • The doctor will use a locating needle and ultrasound equipment to locate the kidney and then use a collecting needle to gather tissue for the biopsy.
  • The tissue collection itself only takes about 30 seconds.
  • The doctor may need to insert the needle three or four times to obtain a sufficient tissue sample.

Here is what you can expect following the procedure:

  • Your child will lie on his or her back for a few hours in a recovery room to be closely monitored and then transferred to the renal floor for the overnight stay.
  • Staff will assess your child’s blood pressure and pulse as well as take blood samples to ensure that there is no blood loss due to the biopsy.
  • You may notice some blood in your child’s urine for up to 24 hours following the biopsy.

Please contact your child’s nephrologist immediately if he or she
experiences any of the following symptoms after the renal biopsy
procedure:

  • Blood in the urine for more than 24 hours after the biopsy
  • Inability to urinate
  • Fever
  • Worsening pain at the biopsy site
  • Faintness or dizziness

These symptoms may mean your child has developed a complication from
the procedure. The nephrologist will review the potential complications
from the procedure with you before the biopsy.

Locations

Locations

Locations

In addition to our primary hospital location at the Academic Health Center in Indianapolis, IN, we have convenient locations to better serve our communities throughout the state.

Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health

Nephrology & Kidney Diseases
705 Riley Hospital Dr
Indianapolis, IN 46202

317.944.5000

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