Renal (Kidney) Biopsy

You may need a renal biopsy in the event that your physician deems necessary for diagnosing kidney diseases, particularly types of nephrites. A detailed evaluation is required before a biopsy is approved for performing in order to ensure that no obstacle is posed before the biopsy.

Considerations before the procedure

• Your kidneys are evaluated with an ultrasound before kidney biopsy and you are given a prescription for the biopsy needle suitable for the procedure.

• You will need to be hospitalized for at least 24 hours for kidney biopsy. Therefore, you should have a suitable referral for hospitalization procedures.

• You should fast for at least 6 hours before the procedure. However, heart and hypertension medications that are regularly used, should be taken with a little amount of water. Patients who will undergo a biopsy should stop using aspirin and any other blood thinning medication at least 7-10 days before the procedure. If you are on any of these medications, please consult your physician.

• Biopsy is performed with ultrasound by experienced experts. You should lay face down for a while for the procedure called needle biopsy. After your skin, subcutaneous tissue and renal membrane are anesthetized locally, 2 pieces are collected from the kidney with the help of a needle. The dimensions of pieces are 1-1.5 cm in length and 0.3-0.5 cm in diameter.

• Kidney biopsy poses a scarce risk of bleeding. Therefore, you may need to be monitored in the hospital and meet your toilet needs in a bed-bound state for 24 hours as of the procedure. You will need an all-day visitor to help you during this process.

• You can start drinking water right after the procedure. You need to wait for at least 4-6 hours and take approval of your physician before you can eat.

• Your post-procedural urine should be evaluated in respect to bleeding. Therefore, you should show your urine to your physician before discarding it.

• You can be discharged one day after the procedure unless there is a problem. Your kidney biopsy result is reported within a few days.