The Kidney Biopsy
So after a few months of testing from my Primary Care doctor and handing me off to a Nephrologist, I was finally sent for a Kidney Ultrasound and a Kidney Biopsy in April 2016. The ultrasound was just used for getting a measurement of the kidneys and to rule out anything foreign on the kidneys such as tumors or disease. I am happy to say my kidney ultrasound results were good.
My kidney biopsy was pretty much a breeze. I arrived at the hospital and was sent to the Cath Lab. The specialized doctors would be using a CT scan to guide them through the biopsy process. Here are the steps of a kidney biopsy:
IgA is characterized by the hematuria it causes, which just means blood in the urine. This blood may be visible to the naked eye or only seen under a microscope. Over time this disease can damage the kidney’s ability to clean the blood properly. Most people with this disease lose kidney function very slowly, or not at all. Of course I was crossing my fingers for the not at all part!
My kidney biopsy was pretty much a breeze. I arrived at the hospital and was sent to the Cath Lab. The specialized doctors would be using a CT scan to guide them through the biopsy process. Here are the steps of a kidney biopsy:
Percutaneous biopsy
Percutaneous means through the skin. Most kidney biopsies are done this way. The procedure is usually done in the following way:
- You may receive medicine to make you drowsy.
- You lie on your stomach. If you have a transplanted kidney, you lie on your back.
- The doctor marks the spot on the skin where the biopsy needle is inserted.
- The skin is cleaned.
- Numbing medicine (anesthetic) is injected under the skin near the kidney area.
- The doctor makes a tiny cut in the skin. Ultrasound images are used to find the proper location. Sometimes another imaging method, such as CT, is used.
- The doctor inserts a biopsy needle through the skin to the surface of the kidney. You are asked to take and hold a deep breath as the needle goes into the kidney.
- If the doctor is not using ultrasound guidance, you may be asked to take several deep breaths. This allows the doctor to know the needle is in place.
- The needle may be inserted more than once if more than one tissue sample is needed.
- The needle is removed. Pressure is applied to the biopsy site to stop any bleeding.
- After the procedure, a bandage is applied to the biopsy site.
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Photo from UNC Kidney Center |
In the colored picture you can see a slice of one filter. The red blood cells (hematuria) and small yellow dots (Protein/Proteinuria) are leaking out through a damaged kidney filter (glomeruli) into urine.
I will talk more about IGA Nephopathy in another blog post. Thanks for reading!
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. I am not a medical professional. NO information on this site should be used to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease or condition.
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