A kidney biopsy means that a small sample of tissue is taken from your kidney and checked under a microscope. Your healthcare provider will look at the biopsy results to decide which type of GN you have.
Not everyone needs a kidney biopsy. You and your healthcare provider will decide if a biopsy is right for you.
Every procedure has some risks. Kidney biopsies are usually low risk. The following are the most serious risks of a kidney biopsy for both adults and children. These risks are
very rare:
- pain that lasts more than 12 hours
- bleeding around or into the kidney
- infection
- creating a shortcut in the blood flow from an artery to a vein in the kidney (fistula)
- urine leaking from the kidney
- kidney failure
- death
To get more information for adults having a kidney biopsy, see
Kidney Biopsy: Test Overview.
Common questions when your child is having a kidney biopsy
If your child is having a kidney biopsy, you may have more questions about it. These are some of the most common questions:
What should I do before my child’s kidney biopsy?
If your child’s healthcare provider asked your child to have blood tests done before the biopsy, do them within 7 days before the procedure. This makes sure your child doesn’t have problems with bleeding or blood clotting.
Don’t give your child anything to eat or drink after midnight the night before the kidney biopsy. Your child’s stomach must be empty before having medicine to make them sleep (general anesthetic). If your child has special needs, talk to their healthcare provider to make a plan.
If your child normally takes medicine in the morning, you can give it to them with a sip of water.
If your child is taking blood thinners (like aspirin, warfarin, heparin), talk to their healthcare provider about whether it is safe to keep taking them. Your child may need to stop taking them 1 week before the biopsy.
What happens during my child’s kidney biopsy?
To keep your child still and comfortable, they will get medicine to make them sleep. You can stay with your child until they’re asleep.
A radiologist (a doctor who specializes in medical imaging) will do the biopsy. They will use ultrasound (pictures made using sound waves) to see your child’s kidney. Your child will be lying on their stomach or on their back if they have a kidney transplant. The radiologist will pass a special thin needle into 1 of the kidneys to get samples. They’ll usually take 3 small samples. Your child won’t need stitches. They’ll have a small bandage over where the needle went in.
What happens after the biopsy?
Your child will get IV (intravenous, meaning into the vein) fluids until they wake up and can start drinking and eating normally.
Your child will need to lie in bed for about 6 hours after the biopsy. Then they can usually go home if there are no problems. Your child will have a blood test about 3 hours after the biopsy. If you live more than 1 hour from the hospital, plan to stay somewhere near the hospital overnight.
How do I care for my child at home?
Leave your child’s bandage on for 24 hours. If it gets wet or dirty before 24 hours, take it off and replace it with a regular, clean bandage. Your child can have a shower after 24 hours. You can give your child acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain if they need it.
For the first 2 days after the biopsy, your child will need to limit activity. Keep them home from school or daycare, and don’t let them get any exercise. After 2 days your child can go back to school, but they shouldn’t do harder activities for 2 weeks. These might include:
- contact sports
- gymnastics
- diving and swimming
- bicycle riding
- rollerblading
- hockey
- soccer
- skiing
- horseback riding
Take your child to your nearest
emergency department if your child:
- has a lot of bleeding where the biopsy was done
- has blood in their pee that is not clearing up
- has very bad belly pain
- feels weak, unwell, or both
