Renal Venogram

Why might I need a renal venogram?

You may need a renal venogram to help your healthcare provider find problems in the renal vein or with blood flow in your kidneys. These problems may include:

• Blood clot (renal vein thrombosis)
• Tumor
• High blood pressure in the kidneys (renovascular hypertension)

Your healthcare provider may have other reasons to recommend a renal venogram. Talk with your healthcare provider about the reason for your test.

What are the risks of a renal venogram?

You may want to ask your healthcare provider about the amount of radiation used during the test. Also ask about the risks as they apply to you.

Consider writing down all X-rays you get, including past scans and X-rays for other health reasons. Show this list to your provider. The risks of radiation exposure may be tied to the number of X-rays you have and the X-ray treatments you have over time.

Tell your healthcare provider if you:

• Are pregnant or think you may be pregnant. Radiation exposure during pregnancy may lead to birth defects.
• Are allergic to or sensitive to any medicines, contrast dye, or iodine. Because contrast dye is used, there is a risk for allergic reaction to the dye.
• Have kidney failure or other kidney problems. In some cases, the contrast dye can cause kidney failure. You are at higher risk for this if you take certain diabetes medicines.

Possible complications of a renal venogram include:

• Bleeding
• Injury to nerves
• Blood clot (embolus)
• Swelling caused by a collection of blood (hematoma)
• Infection
• Temporary kidney failure
• Damage to a vein or adjacent artery. This can cause blood clots or an abnormal opening between the vein and artery.

You should not have renal venography if you have a severe blockage (thrombosis) in the large vein that brings blood from your lower body to your heart (inferior vena cava) or a blockage in the renal vein.

You may have other risks depending on your specific health condition. Be sure to talk with your provider about any concerns you have before the procedure.

Certain things can make a renal venogram less accurate. These include:

• Having oral contrast still in your body from a recent imaging test such as a computed tomography (CT) scan, barium enema or barium swallow (upper GI) X-ray
• Gas or stool in the intestines

How do I get ready for a renal venogram?

• Your healthcare provider will explain the procedure to you. Ask him or her any questions you have about the procedure.
• You may be asked to sign a consent form that gives permission to do the procedure. Read the form carefully and ask questions if anything is not clear.
• Follow any directions you are given for not eating or drinking before the procedure. If your provider plans to take a blood sample during the test, you will need to cut back on the amount of salt you eat before the procedure.
• Tell your healthcare provider if:
  • You are pregnant or think you may be
  • You are allergic or sensitive to contrast dye or iodine as well as any medicines, latex, tape, or anesthesia (local and general).
• Also tell your healthcare provider:
  • About all medicines you are taking. This includes prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, and herbal supplements.
  • If you have had a bleeding disorder or are taking blood-thinning medicine (anticoagulant), aspirin, or other medicines that affect blood clotting. You may need to stop these medicines before the test.
• You may get medicine to help you relax (sedative) before the test. You will need to have someone drive you home afterward.
• Follow any other instructions your provider gives you to get ready.

What happens during a renal venogram?

You may have a renal venogram as an outpatient or as part of your stay in the hospital. The way the test is done may vary depending on your condition and your healthcare provider's practices.

Generally, a renal venogram follows this process:

1. You will be asked to remove your jewelry or other objects that may get in the way of the test
2. If you are asked to remove clothing, you will be given a gown to wear.
3. An intravenous (IV) line will be started in your arm or hand.
4. You will lay on the X-ray table.
5. The nurse or technician will shave the skin in an area of your groin. He or she will clean the skin and inject local pain medicine. The radiologist will put a needle into a vein in your groin. This will be used to inject the contrast dye.
6. The radiologist will check your pulses below the injection site for the contrast dye. He or she will use a marker to note them. This is so that staff can check the circulation to the leg after the test.
7. The radiologist will put a long thin tube (catheter) into the vein. He or she will move the catheter until it reaches the renal vein. The radiologist will use fluoroscopy to see where the catheter is.
8. The radiologist will inject the contrast dye into the catheter. You may feel a flushing sensation, a salty or metallic taste in the mouth, a brief headache, or nausea or vomiting. These effects usually last for a few moments.
9. Tell the radiologist if you have trouble breathing, or if you have sweating, numbness, or heart palpitations.
10. The radiologist will take X-ray pictures. He or she will be able to see the X-rays on a monitor.
12. Your radiologist may take a blood sample from the IV in your arm or hand.
13. Once the test is done, the radiologist will remove the catheter. He or she will put pressure on the site to keep it from bleeding.
14. After the bleeding stops, he or she will put a dressing on the site. The radiologist may put something heavy on the site for a period of time. This will help stop bleeding and keep blood from collecting (hematoma) at the site.

What happens after a renal venogram?

You will be taken to the recovery room. A nurse will watch your vital signs and check the injection site. He or she will also check the circulation and sensation in the leg where the catheter was used.

You will need to lie flat in bed for at least 2 hours. Once your vital signs are stable and your injection site dressing is clean and dry, you will be taken to your hospital room or sent home.

You may be given pain medicine to ease pain or discomfort from the injection site or from having to lie flat and still.

Once at home, watch the injection site for bleeding. A small bruise is normal. So is an occasional drop of blood at the site.

You should also watch the leg where the catheter was inserted for changes in temperature or color, pain, numbness, tingling, or loss of movement.

It's important to drink plenty of fluids to help the contrast dye leave your body. Fluids will also keep you from getting dehydrated.

You may not be able to do any strenuous activities or take a hot bath or shower for a period of time after the test.

Tell your healthcare provider if any of these occur:

• Fever or chills
• Increased pain, redness, swelling, or bleeding or other fluid draining from the groin injection site
• Coolness, numbness, tingling, or other changes in the leg

Your healthcare provider may give you other instructions, depending on your situation.

Next steps

Before you agree to the test or the procedure make sure you know:

• The name of the test or procedure
• The reason you are having the test or procedure
• What results to expect and what they mean
• The risks and benefits of the test or procedure
• What the possible side effects or complications are
• When and where you are to have the test or procedure
• Who will do the test or procedure and what that person’s qualifications are
• What would  happen if you did not have the test or procedure
• Any alternative tests or procedures to think about
• When and how you will get the results
• Who to call after the test or procedure if you have questions or problems
• How much you will have to pay for the test or procedure