Renal biopsy is a medical examination in which a small sample of the kidney is taken to examine its cells in the indicated laboratory when one has protein or blood in the urine or after renal transplantation, for example. The biopsy must be performed at the hospital and the patient needs to be kept on observation for a period of 12 hours because the examination causes bleeding from the urine.
Before performing the renal biopsy an ultrasound should be performed to better visualize the kidney and exclude if one has only one kidney. In addition, biopsy can not be performed when you are infected, have hemophiliacs or have polycystic kidney.
Indications for renal biopsy
Performing a biopsy on the kidney is indicated when there is protein or blood in the urine, which can occur in the nephrotic syndrome or watery renal insufficiency.
In addition, in the case of acute renal failure that does not cure within 1 month, kidney cancer symptoms or after renal transplantation may need to perform biopsy.
How is renal biopsy done?
The biopsy is performed in the hospital, and it is necessary to lie down on the belly to have better access to the kidneys. A needle is inserted into the kidney to withdraw a small sample of the kidney, and the technique takes 30 minutes.
Preparation for renal biopsy
In the week prior to the examination, one should not take medicines such as anticoagulants, platelet anti-aggregators, or anti-inflammatories.
Before performing the biopsy, renal ultrasonography should be performed to check for the presence of only one kidney, tumors, cysts, fibrotic or atrophied kidneys, which are contraindications to the examination.
Complications of renal biopsy
Bleeding is common, because the kidney has many blood vessels, causing urine with blood.
Contraindications for kidney examination
The biopsy should not be performed when you have only one kidney, atrophied or polycystic kidneys, coagulation problems, uncontrolled hypertension or urinary infection.
