Your child’s healthcare team will make sure that your child is prepared for the procedure and provide you with the information you need.

The kidney biopsy will take place in an operating theatre, the radiology department or a treatment room on the ward.

When to come into the hospital

Your child will need to come into the hospital for a whole day. This may be on the day of the biopsy or the night before.

They will need blood tests, urine tests and a blood pressure measurement, which will take place on the day of the biopsy or at an earlier visit.

Your child can usually go home on the same day but may have to stay in hospital overnight for monitoring.

Medicines

Your child will not be able to take some medicines before the procedure. These include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and aspirin. Your child’s doctor or nurse will give you more information. Do not stop any of your child’s medicines without talking to their healthcare team.

Allergies

Your doctor will ask whether your child has any allergies.

Avoiding food and drink

Your child will need to stop eating or drinking anything for some time before the biopsy. Your child’s doctor or nurse will give you more information.

Play specialist

Some hospitals have a play specialist, who may be able to meet with your child. They will use dolls and other toys to help your child understand and feel less worried about the procedure.

What to bring to the biopsy

You may like to bring some of your child’s favourite toys, games and books. If your child is spending the night in hospital, you will need to bring their nightclothes, toiletries and a change of clothes.

This web page is printer-friendly.

To save the page as a PDF, print as normal and select "Save as PDF" as your printer destination.