A kidney biopsy, is a procedure that is used to obtain small pieces of kidney tissue to look at under the microscope. It may be done to determine the cause, severity, and possible treatment of a kidney disorder. The procedure is generally safe and can provide valuable information about your kidney disorders.
REASONS FOR KIDNEY BIOPSY
kidney biopsy is recommended for certain people with kidney diseases. It may be performed when other blood and urine tests cannot give enough information. The following are the most common reasons for kidney biopsy. You may have one or more of these problems, but not everyone with these problems needs a renal biopsy:
Protein in urine (called proteinuria)
This occurs in many people with kidney problems. A renal biopsy may be recommended if you have high or increasing levels of protein in the urine or if you have proteinuria along with other signs of kidney disease.
Problems with kidney function
If your kidneys suddenly or slowly stop functioning normally, a renal biopsy may be recommended, especially if the cause of your kidney problem is unclear.
RENAL BIOPSY PROCEDURE
Preparation
Before your biopsy, you may need tests to determine whether you have blood clotting disorders or infections. To decrease the risk of bleeding, you should stop taking medicines that increase the risk of bleeding (such as aspirin, aspirin-like compounds, ibuprofen, or naproxen) for one to two weeks before the biopsy. Review your medicines with your health care provider to determine which ones are safe to continue.
If you take warfarin (marevan), heparin, clopidogrel (Plavix), or other medicines that prevent blood clots, ask your clinician when to take these medications before your biopsy.
Biopsy procedure
Renal biopsy is usually performed while you are awake, after a cleansing agent is applied, and you are given local anesthesia (numbing medicine) to minimize pain. The most common way to perform a biopsy is to use a needle, which is inserted through the skin and into the kidney.
In most cases, you will have an ultrasound scan so that the clinician knows exactly where to insert the needle. Once the needle is in the right position, the clinician will take a sample of tissue from the kidney with the needle.
After the biopsy, the kidney tissue will be sent to a specialized pathology laboratory and examined with a microscope. This microscopic examination is looking for scars, infection, or abnormalities in the kidney tissue. The results of the microscopic exam are usually available within one to two weeks after the biopsy. In urgent situations, the results can be available within a few hours.
After a needle biopsy, you will be kept in a recovery or an observation unit for several hours to monitor any potential complications, including pain and bleeding. You may have blood drawn or repeat x-rays to monitor for bleeding. In some instances, you could go home after several hours of monitoring. Alternatively, you may be observed in the hospital overnight.
Once it is seemed to be safe for you to go home, you don’t have to perform any heavy lifting or vigorous exercise for one to two weeks. You should continue avoiding aspirin-like drugs or blood thinning medications for at least one week or until your clinician has instructed that it is safe for you.
RENAL BIOPSY COMPLICATIONS
Serious complications of renal biopsy are not common.
Less serious complications can occur and are short-lived. These can include bleeding, pain. Rare complications include infection, damage to blood vessels or other organs, or urine leaks.
Bleeding
Bleeding is the most common complication of renal biopsy. Many people may notice blood in their urine for several days after a renal biopsy. More severe bleeding occurs around the kidney or into the urine is uncommon, but if it occurs, you may need a blood transfusion. Very rarely, it may become serious and possibly require a procedure or surgery to stop bleeding. If your urine is bright red or brown for longer than one week after your biopsy, call your health care provider.
Pain
Pain can occur after a renal biopsy. You can be given medications to reduce pain after the procedure, and pain usually resolves within a few hours. If you have severe or prolonged pain, call your health care provider immediately.
WHERE TO GET MORE INFORMATION
Your health care provider is the best source of information for questions and concerns related to your medical problem.