Patient education: Kidney biopsy – Discharge instructions (The Basics)

What are discharge instructions? — Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care for a health problem.

What is a kidney biopsy? — This is a procedure to check the kidney or look at an abnormal area of the kidney for cancer or other problems. It is also called a "renal biopsy." People usually have 2 kidneys, 1 on each side of the mid-back (figure 1). The kidneys filter blood and remove waste and excess salt and water.

There are different ways to do a kidney biopsy. You might have had a:

●Percutaneous biopsy – The doctor used a needle to take a sample of tissue from your kidney.

●Transjugular biopsy – The doctor inserted a thin tube called a "catheter" into a vein in your neck. Then, they put a special needle through the catheter to get the tissue sample.

●Surgical biopsy – The doctor made a small cut to get the tissue sample.

How do I care for myself at home? — Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure that you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.

You should also:

●Take all of your medicines as instructed. Make sure that you know when you should start taking any medicines you stopped before the biopsy.

●Take care of your biopsy site – You might have stitches, skin staples, surgical glue, or a special skin tape where the biopsy was done.

•Keep the site dry and covered with a bandage for the first 1 to 2 days. Your doctor or nurse will tell you exactly how long to keep the area dry.

•Once you no longer need to keep the site dry, gently wash it with soap and water whenever you take a shower. Do not put the site underwater, such as in a bath, pool, or lake. This can slow healing and raise your chance of getting an infection.

•After you wash the site, pat it dry. Your doctor or nurse will tell you if you need to put an antibiotic ointment on it. They will also tell you if you need to cover the site with a bandage or gauze.

•Always wash your hands before and after you touch your biopsy site or bandage.

●Increase your activity slowly. The doctor might want you to take it easy for the next 1 to 2 weeks. This includes limiting lifting, sports, and activities that could cause rough contact to your back.

●Call your doctor or make an appointment to talk about your biopsy results. The results are usually available within a few days to a week after a biopsy.

When should I call the doctor? — Call for advice if:

●You have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or chills.

●You have drainage, redness, or swelling around the biopsy site.

●You have severe pain at the biopsy site.

●You have bleeding from the biopsy site.

●You have blood in your urine that does not go away after a day or so.

●You cannot urinate, have to urinate very often, or have a burning feeling when you urinate.

●Your urine is dark red or brown. Pink or slightly cloudy urine is normal for the first day after a biopsy.

More on this topic

Patient education: Kidney biopsy (The Basics)
Patient education: Chronic kidney disease (The Basics)
Patient education: Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (The Basics)

Patient education: Kidney (renal) biopsy (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Chronic kidney disease (Beyond the Basics)