Kidney biopsy: Caring for your child at home after the procedure

What is a kidney biopsy?

A kidney biopsy is a procedure done to obtain a small sample of the kidney so it can be examined under a microscope. A kidney biopsy can help your child’s doctor identify problems in the kidney and find the cause of kidney disease.

Discharge from the hospital

Most children who have a kidney biopsy go home the same day. This is usually about eight hours after the biopsy.

Your child will be observed closely for these eight hours before being discharged home. They will be given a blood test approximately six hours after the biopsy to check for bleeding. If there are any concerns of bleeding, an ultrasound may be ordered. Your child may have to be admitted overnight for further observation if their doctor feels it necessary.

If you live more than one hour away from the hospital, it is suggested that you stay nearby to the hospital overnight on the night after the procedure.

Dressing care

Your child will have a dressing or bandage over the site of the biopsy. You can take the dressing off after 24 hours.

If the dressing gets wet or dirty, take it off and replace with a clean adhesive bandage. Your child may also have a bruise at the biopsy site, which can take up to 10 days to go away.

Bathing

Your child may have a bath or shower 24 hours after the biopsy. However, it is very important to keep the bandage dry or replace it if it gets wet. A wet bandage can contribute to delayed healing and increase the risk of infection.

Meals

If your child is feeling well enough after the sedation or anaesthetic, they can return to eating what they normally eat. It is also important to encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids for 48 hours after the procedure.

Pain relief

If needed, give your child acetaminophen for pain. Do not give your child any medicines that will thin the blood, such as acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) or ibuprofen, without checking with your child’s health-care provider first.

Activity

After the biopsy, your child will need to stay home from school or day care, and avoid physical activity for the first two days (48 hours). Your child may return to school 48 hours after the biopsy, with restricted activity. Your child should avoid all major activities for two full weeks. These include:

• contact sports
• gymnastics
• diving/swimming
• bicycle riding
• rollerblading
• hockey
• soccer
• skiing
• horseback riding

Results

The doctor who ordered the procedure will receive the results of your child's biopsy. You will need to make an appointment with them to discuss the results.

When to see a doctor

Go to the nearest Emergency Department right away if your child has any of the following:

• Fever greater than 38°C (100.4°F)
• Throwing up (vomiting) that does not stop
• Severe pain
• Bleeding or swelling around the biopsy site
• Bright red blood in the urine
• Dizziness and pale colour
• Swelling in the tummy
• General weakness

At SickKids

If you have any concerns in the first 48 hours, call the Image Guided Therapy (IGT) clinic at (416) 813-7654 ext. 201804. Speak to the IGT clinic nurse during working hours or leave a non-urgent message.

If you have concerns and it is after working hours, see your primary care provider or go to the nearest Emergency Department. You can also call the Hospital for Sick Children switchboard at (416) 813-7500 and ask them to page a member of your child’s health-care team or the interventional radiology fellow on call.