Pediatric Imaging

INTRAVENOUS PYELOGRAM (IVP)

What is an IVP?

An IVP is an "intravenous pyleogram." These are big words for a special X-ray of your kidneys and the other parts of your body that help you go to the bathroom. Your kidneys are two bean shaped organs that are inside your body around the area of your lower back. Have you ever eaten kidney beans? Kidney beans got their name because they look like a kidney! Look at the picture…which are the beans and which is your kidney?

You might have to have an IVP of you have had pain in your lower back, blood in your urine (when you pee) or some unintentional accidents.

Do I need to do anything before I go to the hospital?

This type of examination is usually done early in the morning. You doctor will probably tell you that should not eat breakfast before this examination. After the examination is over, you can eat or drink whatever you want.

What will happen when I am at the hospital?

When you come to the hospital for the IVP, you and your parents will check in at the Pediatric Waiting Area and Playroom. There are many toys and books for you to play with in the Pediatric Waiting Area or you can bring your own toys and books with you from home. The person who will be taking the X-rays is called the technologist. When it is your turn, he or she will take you and your family into an examination room. This room has a table in the middle with a camera next to it. This is the camera that will take pictures of the inside of you! This camera does not look like the camera that your mom uses to take pictures on the first day of school, on your birthday or when you go on a trip. This camera is too big to carry and so it always stays in this special room. That is why you have to come to the hospital to get your picture taken.

The technologist will ask you to lie on your back on the table and rest your head on a pillow. He or she will take one quick picture with the camera. Remember that the camera will not touch you and you won’t be able to feel the picture being taken. After this picture, the technologist is going to put a special liquid called a "contrast liquid" into your vein. You will feel a pinch from the needle but it will be over before you can count, 1, 2, 3. The contrast liquid is clear and looks like water but unlike water, it makes it easier for the doctor to see your kidneys. The contrast will pass out of your body the next time you have to urinate or pee. There will be a few more pictures that need to be taken before you can go home. It is very important to stay very still so that the pictures are not fuzzy! Once all the pictures have been taken, you’re all done!