What is kidney biopsy?
A kidney biopsy, also known as renal biopsy is a procedure wherein a small section of kidney tissue is removed with the help of a needle, to examine under the microscope. The test helps to identify the cause, and possible treatment of the kidney disease.
Why is it required?
Kidney biopsy is recommended for certain patients with kidney diseases. It is performed when other blood and urine tests cannot give enough information or when there is a need of a confirming evidence.
Following are the indications for doing a kidney biopsy:
How is the procedure done?
Percutaneous biopsy
It is done by inserting a needle through the skin. The doctor identifies the biopsy site using a sonogram. The site of needle insertion is cleaned, marked and anesthetised. Pressure may be felt during the insertion and it is advised to hold breath for 45 seconds or less. Once sample is taken, the needle is removed and the puncture site is bandaged.
What are the common complications involved in a kidney biopsy?
No serious complication are involved in the procedure. Minor complications like bleeding, pain, development of abnormal communication between two blood vessels (fistula) may occur.
Rare complications include:
What instructions should be followed after the procedure?
The patient is advised to follow the below mentioned instructions after a kidney biopsy:
Test results of a kidney biopsy
The sample collected is further sent to pathologists for the interpretation of the procedure. The pathologist will analyse the sample for the presence of any abnormality using microscope and reactive dyes. It takes about 4-5 days to generate the results, however, in some cases the doctor may contact the patient within 24 hours.
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