Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP): How To Prepare

Content provided by Healthwise

How To Prepare

Before having an intravenous pyelogram (IVP), tell your doctor if:

• You are or might be pregnant.
• You have an intrauterine device (IUD) in place.
• You are allergic to the iodine dye used as the contrast material for X-ray tests or to anything else that contains iodine.
• You have ever had a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), such as after being stung by a bee or from eating shellfish.
• Within the past 4 days, you have had an X-ray test using barium contrast material (such as a barium enema) or have taken a medicine (such as Pepto-Bismol) that contains bismuth.
• You have had kidney problems in the past or have diabetes, especially if you take metformin (Glucophage) to control your diabetes. The contrast material used during an IVP can cause kidney damage in people who have poor kidney function. If you have had kidney problems in the past, blood tests (creatinine, blood urea nitrogen) may be done before the test to make sure that your kidneys are working properly.

Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have regarding the need for the test, its risks, how it will be done, or what the results will mean. To help you understand the importance of this test, fill out the medical test information form (What is a PDF document?) .

Do not eat or drink for 8 to 12 hours before the IVP. You may need to take a laxative the evening before the test (and possibly have an enema the morning of the test) to make sure that your bowels are empty.

If you are breast-feeding, use formula for 1 to 2 days after the test.

Last updated:	July 08, 2008
Author:	Monica Rhodes
Reviewed By:	E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine, Avery L. Seifert, MD - Urology
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Tracy Landauer