Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP)

What is an IVP?

An intravenous pyelogram, or IVP, is a special X-ray of the urinary tract, including the kidneys, bladder, and prostate. An IVP allows your healthcare provider to see the location and size of your kidneys. It can give your provider an idea of whether they are working and how well they are working. It can show narrowing, blockage, or a stone or tumor in the urinary tract.

When is it used?

An IVP can help find the cause of problems such as blood in the urine or back or abdominal pain. The IVP can be used to look for:

• tumors
• kidney or bladder stones
• an enlarged prostate
• other blockages to the flow of urine.

Examples of alternatives to this procedure are:

• X-ray of your abdomen
• ultrasound scan
• CT (computerized X-rays)
• choosing not to have the procedure and not to have the information about your condition that such tests might provide.

You should ask your healthcare provider about these choices.

How do I prepare for an IVP?

Carefully follow your healthcare provider's instructions, which may include:

• not eating or drinking after midnight the night before your exam
• taking a mild laxative the evening before the procedure.

There is a small risk that you will have an allergic reaction to the dye used for the IVP. Before the procedure, be sure to tell your healthcare provider and the radiologist or technologist about any allergies you have. Women should tell their provider if they are pregnant.

What happens during the procedure?

An IVP may be performed in the X-ray department of a large clinic or hospital or in an outpatient center. You will need to wear a hospital gown so that items from your clothing, such as zippers, do not interfere with the X-ray picture.

First a plain X-ray is taken of your abdomen. Then a special dye (called contrast medium) is injected into the vein in your arm. After the dye is injected, a series of X-rays are taken. The dye moves to your urinary tract and into your urine. It makes the kidneys visible on the X-rays. Your provider can see how the dye flows through your kidneys.

As the dye leaves the kidneys it enters the ureters. The ureters are the tubes that drain urine from the kidneys into the bladder. As urine containing the dye flows into your bladder, it gives a picture of the bladder. Dye flowing through the ureters and bladder helps your provider see possible stones or other blockages of the normal flow of urine.

A typical IVP test takes about an hour, but it may take longer, depending on how fast your kidneys empty.

What happens after the procedure?

When the test is done, you may be able to leave, depending on your provider's instructions.

The dye used for the IVP will not discolor your urine. It will not cause any discomfort when you urinate. If you have pain or other discomfort after the IVP, tell your healthcare provider right away. The symptoms could be caused by a problem such as an infection.

What are the benefits of this procedure?

The IVP may help your healthcare provider diagnose what is causing your symptoms. In most cases it is a very safe way to look at the urinary tract. It may help you avoid more invasive procedures. It is fast and painless.

What are the risks of this procedure?

You may have an allergic reaction to the dye. In an allergic reaction, your body's immune system misreads a harmless substance as harmful. As a result you can have symptoms that vary widely in severity. For example, you could get hives, nausea, fainting, swelling, or, in severe cases, trouble breathing.

When should I call my healthcare provider?

Call your provider right away if:

• You have any change or worsening of pain or symptoms.

Call during office hours if:

• You have questions about the procedure or its result.