Discharge Instructions for Kidney Biopsy

You had a procedure called a kidney biopsy. Your doctor used a needle to remove a small piece of tissue from your kidney. The tissue will be checked for signs of damage and disease. A kidney biopsy is done if other tests have shown that there may be a problem with your kidney. A kidney biopsy is also done if a doctor thinks you may have kidney disease or to check for cancer.

• Rest for 24 to 48 hours.
• Don't drive for 24 to 48 hours.
• Don't shower for 24 hours. If you wish, you may wash with a sponge or washcloth. When you are able to shower, don't scrub the site. Gently wash the area and pat it dry.
• Don't soak in a bath, hot tub, or swimming pool until the site is fully healed or your doctor clears you.
• Remove the bandage from the biopsy site 24 to 48 hours after the procedure.
• Don't lift anything heavier than 10 pounds for 3 to 4 days.
• Ask your doctor when you can return to work. Tell them if your job involves heavy lifting.
• Only use pain medicines recommended by your doctor.
• If you take blood-thinner medicine (anticoagulant or antiplatelet medicine) and you stopped taking it a few days before your procedure, ask when you can take it again.

Contact your doctor right away if you have any of these:

• Bright red urine, blood clots in your urine, or blood in your urine that is getting worse or lasting longer than 24 to 48 hours after the biopsy
• Unable to pass urine
• Extreme tiredness
• Extreme weakness
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Sudden or worse shortness of breath
• Sudden chest pain
• Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as directed by your doctor
• Chills
• Redness, tenderness, pain, or swelling at the biopsy site that gets worse
• Opening up of the biopsy site
• Fluid or bleeding from the biopsy site
• Bandage that becomes soaked with blood
• Overall pain that gets worse, with or without activity
• Symptoms get worse or you have new symptoms