KIDNEY BIOPSY

A renal biopsy is a process used to remove kidney tissue for laboratory diagnosis. The test assists your doctor to know the kind of kidney disease you have, how severe it is, and the most appropriate treatment for it. A renal/kidney biopsy can also be used to observe the efficiency of kidney treatments and see if there are any issues following a kidney transplant.

There are two procedures to perform a renal/kidney biopsy:
 

Percutaneous biopsy (renal needle biopsy) This is the commonest kind of renal/kidney biopsy. For this procedure, a doctor inserts a thin biopsy needle through the skin to extract your kidney tissue. They may additionally use an ultrasound or CT scan to direct the needle to a precise area of the kidney.

Open biopsy (surgical biopsy) Your doctor makes a cut (incision) in skin near the kidneys. This allows the doctor to look at the kidneys and decide the area from which the tissue samples should be taken.

Purpose of a kidney biopsy

A kidney biopsy can find out what is interfering with your normal kidney function. Healthy people have two kidneys that perform many functions. The kidneys functions are:

Extract liquid waste (urea) from the blood by producing urine

Keep a balance of chemicals, such as sodium and potassium, in the blood

Provide the hormone erythropoietin, which supports red blood cell growth

Manage blood pressure by producing the hormone rennin

Assists activate the hormone calcitriol, which regulates calcium absorption and calcium blood levels

If your regular blood and urine tests show that your kidneys are not doing their job properly, your doctor may choose to perform a renal biopsy. Your doctor might also recommend this test to:

Identify the reason for an abnormal level of waste products in the blood

Check if a kidney tumor is malignant or benign

Measure how nicely a transplanted kidney is working

Examine the cause of hematuria (blood in the urine)

Ascertain the cause of proteinuria (high level of protein in the urine)

Check the severity of progressive kidney failure and how rapidly the kidneys are failing

Make a treatment plan for a diseased kidney

Renal biopsy/kidney procedure

Typically, a kidney biopsy is done as an outpatient procedure at a hospital. However, it can additionally be done in a radiology department if an ultrasound or CT scan is required during the procedure. Before the procedure, you will change into a health facility gown. Your doctor might give you a sedative through an intravenous (IV) line in your hand or arm to assist you relax. Nevertheless, you will not be given general anesthesia for this procedure, this implies that you will be awake throughout.

Recovery from a renal biopsy

At the end of your renal/kidney biopsy, you’ll need time for recovery and monitoring before you’re discharged from the hospital. The timing of your discharge will differ, depending on your usual physical condition, your doctor’s practices, and your reaction to the procedure.

Usually, you can resume eating your normal diet when you feel hungry. Your doctor may ask that you rest in mattress for 12 to 24 hours after your biopsy and stay away strenuous activity and heavy lifting for two weeks.

You should also keep away from jogging, aerobics, or any other activity that involves bouncing, for two weeks after your biopsy. You may desire to take a pain reliever for any pain you have at the biopsy area.

Risks of a renal/kidney biopsy

A kidney biopsy can supply valuable information that allows your doctor to analyze kidney abnormalities and decide on the suitable treatments.

Having an infection after the procedure is a serious risk. However, this rarely happens. Always be very alert for symptoms that could point out an infection after your kidney biopsy. Contact your doctor if you:

Have bright red blood or blood clots in your urine for more than one day after your biopsy

Cannot pass out urine

Feel chills or a fever

Feel pain at the biopsy area that increases in intensity

Experience redness, swelling, bleeding, or any other discharge from the biopsy area

Feel weak or fain

Preparation for a kidney biopsy

Normally, you don’t need to do much to prepare for a renal biopsy.

Ensure you inform your doctor about any prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and herbal supplements you’re taking. You need to talk about it them whether you should stop taking them earlier than and during the test, or if you have to change the dosage.

Results of a kidney biopsy

The tissue sample that are removed during your renal biopsy is taken to a laboratory for assessment. A pathologist, a doctor who specializes in disease diagnosis, examines the tissue.

Your sample is diagnosed under microscopes and with reactive dyes. The pathologist identifies and assesses any deposits or scars that appear. Infections and other abnormal conditions will additionally be identified.

The results of a renal/kidney biopsy are abnormal if there are modifications in the kidney tissue. There are a lot of causes for this result. Often, diseases that begin in different parts of your body can cause damage to the kidneys.

If outcomes are abnormal, it could show:

kidney cancer

kidney infection

weaknesses or restrictions in the flow of blood to the kidneys

connective tissue diseases

rejection of a kidney transplant

complicated urinary tract infection

A lot of other diseases that have a bad effect on kidney function

Your doctor may decide to order additional tests to use to help build a treatment plan. They will go over your results and your condition in depth with you and discuss all the next steps following your renal biopsy.

Disclaimer: The information provided herein is for patient general knowledge only and should not be used during any medical emergency, diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Duplication for personal and commercial use must be authorized in writing by Surjen.com.