Renal Perfusion Scintiscan

GENERAL INFORMATION:

What is it? A renal perfusion (per-FU-zhun) scintiscan (SIN-tih-scan) is a test to look at your kidneys and how blood flows to each kidney. Renal is another word for kidney. The job of the kidneys is to make urine from body wastes. This test is also called renal perfusion scintigraphy (sin-TIG-rah-fee), and radionuclide (ray-dee-oh-NOO-kleyed) renal perfusion scan. A renal perfusion scintiscan is often done before another test called a renogram. Ask your caregiver for more information if you are also scheduled to have a renogram.

Why do I need a renal scintiscan? The scan can show if the arteries that supply blood to the kidneys have become too narrow. Renal arteries are too narrow can cause high blood pressure and kidney problems. This condition is called renal artery stenosis (ste-NOH-sis).

Who should not have a renal perfusion scintiscan? Tell your caregiver before the test if you might be or are pregnant. Caregivers may suggest waiting to have the test until after your baby is born. Tell caregivers if you are breast feeding. They may suggest waiting to have the test until after you have finished breast feeding your baby. This should be done to prevent your baby from getting any of the radioactive tracer. Tell caregivers if you have other problems with your kidneys. Having other kidney conditions may change the results of this test.

What should I do to get ready for the renal perfusion scintiscan? Drink plenty of water before the scan. You need to be well hydrated (have enough body fluids) for this test. Tell your caregiver if you take an ACE inhibitor medicine for high blood pressure. You may be told to stop taking the medicine before the test. Otherwise, you do not have to do anything to prepare for the scan. You may eat, drink fluids, and take any medicines that you take regularly before this test.

Informed consent: You have the right to understand your health condition in words that you know. You should be told what tests, treatments, or procedures may be done to treat your condition. Your doctor should also tell you about the risks and benefits of each treatment. You may be asked to sign a consent form that gives caregivers permission to do certain tests, treatments, or procedures. If you are unable to give your consent, someone who has permission can sign this form for you. A consent form is a legal piece of paper that tells exactly what will be done to you. Before giving your consent, make sure all your questions have been answered so that you understand what may happen.

How is a renal perfusion scintiscan performed?

• Your caregiver will tell you what time to come to the Nuclear (NU-klee-ar) Medicine department where the scan is performed. You must remove jewelry and other metal objects, and put on a hospital gown. An IV (intravenous line) will be placed into a vein, probably in your hand or arm. A medicine called an ACE inhibitor may be given in your IV. You may be given this medicine as a pill instead of through your IV. This medicine is usually used to treat high blood pressure. It may be used during the scan to help find out if you have renal artery stenosis.
  
  
• You will lie down on a table. A small amount of a solution containing a radioactive tracer is put into the IV. Caregivers use a special camera to take pictures of your kidneys. The scan takes about 30 minutes. The tracer solution will flow through the renal arteries into your kidneys. Diuretic (deye-yoo-RET-ik) medicine is put into your IV about 10 minutes after the tracer solution. This medicine may make you urinate more than usual.

What will I feel during the scan? You may feel some discomfort when the IV is put in your vein. The scan itself is not painful, but some people are uncomfortable lying still during the scan. If you need to, ask your caregiver about taking medicine to help you lie still. You may be uncomfortable as your bladder fills with urine during the test. Try to lie still and wait until after the test to urinate. Tell your caregiver if you have to urinate during the test.

What should I do after the scan? The tracer leaves your body quickly through your urine. You may continue activities, eat, drink, and take your usual medicines as you did before the test. Drink plenty of fluids, such as water and juices to help flush the tracer out of your body.

Risks: Rarely, you may develop a rash, swelling, or have a serious allergic (al-ER-jik) reaction to the injection. The place where your IV was could bleed, become red, swollen, painful or infected. Ask your caregiver if there is any risk when taking the ACE inhibitor or diuretic medicine. If you do not have a renal scan, caregivers may not be able to decide the best way to treat you. Your condition could get worse, or you could die. Talk to your caregiver if you are worried or have questions about your medicine or care.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Link to Page

Print Page

Email Page