Radiology: the eyes that look into our inner body

Intravenous Urography (IVU)

What is an IVU?

An IVU is a special x-ray exam of our kidneys and other parts of urinary system. This includes the ureters, the channals leading the urins from the kidneys, to the bladder.

How do I prepare for this exam?

In order to see the kidneys well on X-ray, we need to "clean out" the bowel. We ask that you follow this simple diet:

• On the day bfore you exam, eat lunch and dinner. An example of light meal would be: clear soup plain chicken or turkey, broiled meat, mashed potatoes. Do not eat heavy food or roughage.
• At you drug store, buy a ten ounce bottle of magnesium citrate. You do not need a prescription. Drink it at 8 pm on the night before your test.
• Drink as much clear fluid as you can during the evening. Clear fluid includes: water, apple juice, and tea/coffee without milk or cream. But stop eating solid food after 8 pm. On the day of the exam, do not eat solid food. YOu may continue to drink clear liquids up until 3 hours before your appointment.
• If you have a history of severe allergies of asthma, you may be aasked to take some medicine called prednisone before your scan. Please ask you doctor for more information.

What will happen during the test?

First, a technician will take a"test" x-ray to see if your bowel is empty enough for the test. If there is a lot of gas or bowel contents over the kidneysyou'll have to reschedule your test. If not, an IV (intravenous) line will be started in you arm.

You'll be given a special x-ray dye trough the IV. This dye will outline the kidneys and urinary system so they can be seen on x-ray. This will show the radiologist how well your kidneys are working, and the structure of your unrinary system.

After the injection, a number of x-rays will be taken. Each time you will be asked to hold your breath for a period. After the radiologist has seen your bladder fill with dye, you'll be asked to go to the bathroom to urinate. Then they look to your empty bladder on x-ray.