Intravenous
Pyelogram (IVP)
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What is the
test?
The intravenous pyelogram (IVP) is an x-ray
test that uses a dye to show your urinary organs
(the kidneys, ureters, and bladder). The dye
is injected through an IV (intravenous) line.
Since your body clears away the dye by moving
all of it into your urine, the organs that make
and hold urine show up very brightly on the x-rays.
This test is useful for finding kidney stones,
tumors, or blockages in the urinary tract.
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How
do I prepare for the test?
Tell your doctor before the test if you have
ever had an allergic reaction to x-ray dye (IV
contrast dye). Also let your doctor know if you
could be pregnant. If you have diabetes and take
insulin, discuss this with your doctor before
the test.
On the day before your test, you should drink
plenty of fluids. This will help prepare your
kidneys for the job of clearing out the dye the
next day.
Your doctor will instruct you to eat a special
diet the night before the test, so that you have
less solid stool in your large intestine. (Large
amounts of stool in the intestine can make it
harder to interpret your x-rays.) Typical instructions
might include using a laxative in the afternoon
before your test and limiting your dinner the
night before to clear liquids such as broth and
juice.
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What
happens when the test is performed?
You need to have an IV (intravenous) line placed
in a vein in your arm or hand. In the x-ray department,
you lie on your back on a table and an x-ray
camera takes some initial pictures from above.
X-ray dye is injected through the IV. You might
feel some warm tingling in your arm when the
dye is injected. During the next 30-60 minutes,
a new x-ray is taken every few minutes. These
x-rays show the dye in different stages as it
moves through your kidneys and ureters and into
your bladder. Each time an x-ray is taken, you
are asked to hold your breath. Before the last
x-ray, you are sent to a bathroom to empty your
bladder.
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What
risks are there from the test?
The dye used in the test can affect your kidneys,
and sometimes they do not work as well after
exposure to this dye. This effect is almost always
temporary, but some people can have permanent
damage. There is also a small chance of having
an allergic reaction to the x-ray dye used in
the test.
As with all x-rays, there is a small exposure
to radiation. In large amounts, exposure to radiation
can cause cancers or (in pregnant women) birth
defects. The amount of radiation from x-ray tests
is very small-too small to be likely to cause
any harm. X-rays such as this kind in the pelvis
area should be avoided in pregnant women, because
the developing fetus is more sensitive to the
risks from radiation.
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Must
I do anything special after the test is over?
It is a good idea to drink plenty of fluids
after this test to help clear the last bit of
dye out of your system.
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How
long is it before the result of the test is
known?
It takes an hour or more for your pictures to
be developed, and additional time for a radiologist
to examine them and decide if your urinary tract
appears normal. Your doctor will generally receive
a report within a day or two of the test.
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