Overview
An IVP is an x-ray exam of your kidneys, the tubes that drain your kidneys (ureters) and your bladder. This exam requires an intravenous injection of an iodinated contrast material
Preparation for the exam:
You will be required to have blood drawn before this exam. The blood test we need before this exam is called a Chem 7. If you don not have blood work done within 7 days of your exam, we will not be able to perform your exam. The results are very important for us to know before your exam. There could be potential damage to your kidneys if certain levels in your blood are elevated. If you have not had blood work done when you make your appointment, please contact your doctor to have this done. You will also be required to purchase a Fleet prep kit #2 at your local pharmacy at least three days prior to your exam. You do not need a prescription for this kit. It is important that you follow the 48-hour prep instructions in the kit. Two days prior to your exam do not eat any fruit, nut, peas, coarse cereals or fried foods. On the day before your exam your diet should be only clear liquids such as clear broth, jello, apple or cranberry juice, ginger ale, cola, tea or coffee (do not use cream or milk). On the morning of your exam you may drink small amounts of clear liquids. Do not eat any solid foods. The instructions are important to follow because any fecal material in your colon may alter the results of your exam. You may also take any necessary medications the morning of your exam. If you are diabetic, please consult with your doctor before following these preparation instructions.
Appointment time:
Your appointment will be scheduled ahead of time by the hospitalês booking office. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your exam, as you will be required to register and also visit our billing office. Please keep in mind that our hospital is a Level 1 Trauma Center and emergencies often arise beyond our control. Occasionally this may delay the start of your exam. Another thing to be aware of is that we have many x-ray rooms in our department, and certain exams may only be performed in certain rooms. The order in which you arrive in our department may not necessarily be the order in which you are taken into an exam room due to room availability.
Your IVP
You will be escorted into the exam room by a radiologic technologist. You will have to change into a hospital gown, and a plain x-ray film will be taken to ensure that the preparation for the exam was followed correctly. The radiologist will enter the room and take a brief history from you so that he/she will be able to perform an accurate study for you. It is important to know about any allergies that you may have, and of any previous reactions to iodinated contrast (X-ray dye) that you may have had in the past. It is also important to know of any medications you may be taking at this time. The radiologist will start an IV in your arm so that he/she can inject the x-ray dye into your bloodstream. Immediately following this injection, the radiologic technologist will take a series of x-rays at timed intervals to see how your kidneys filter this dye out of your bloodstream. Subsequent follow-up films will be taken at different time intervals up to about 30 minutes. Occasionally delay films will be required for up to two hours. When all the films have been taken, you will be escorted to the bathroom so that you may empty your bladder of this dye, and a final x-ray picture will be taken for residual dye in your bladder.
A typical amount of time for this exam is about one hour, however, if delay films are necessary, you may be required to stay for 2 to 3 hours.
The conclusion of your exam:
You may eat and drink immediately following your exam. It is important that you drink plenty of liquids following your exam to avoid a small risk of potential damage to your kidneys due to residual "dye" in your kidneys.
Results:
The results of your exam will be sent to your doctor and he/she will receive them usually within 24 hours. The radiologist is not required to communicate results to you personally. Keep in mind that the morning in our department is a busy time for the radiologist, and he/she will be performing many of these exams, one right after another. The afternoon is when your films will be thoroughly reviewed, a diagnosis will be made, and a report will be sent to your doctor.
