Thank you and a ? about VCUG test

amykins1283

Thanks so much for the help several of you gave me concerning vesicoureteral reflux and my son't first febrile UTI.  I was able to get the urologist to agree to the renal ultrasound, the VCUG, and a same day consultation after the tests.  

I was just wondering what I should expect from the VCUG.  I know he is going to have a catheter and since we had to do that in the ER I know it is not going to be pleasant but how long does the test take and what can I expect as far as the environment he will be in?  Will I be able to be with him?  We have a consult immediately after testing with the urologist so will he be able to tell us exactly what we are dealing with right away?  Any other info anyone can offer would be great as well.  Thanks!  

Jenny952

My DD had a VCUG done a while ago, so I hope my memory serves me right.  The exam was in a room in radiology, but it was a fairly small room and not too overwhelming  We were able to be with her the entire time. She laid down on a big table and they inserted a catheter into her bladder, then put the x-ray machine over her tummy.  They filled up her bladder and we could see on the screen the outline of the liquid into her bladder and we were watching to see if it was backing up into her kidneys.  The technicians couldn't tell us anything good/bad but hinted around at a few things.  She was a little squirmy but they didn't need her to lay completely still to do the test.  

My DD doesn't have feeling around her bottom, so she couldn't feel the catheter inside her or any of the fidgeting around that they did with her.  I imagine that she'd be more uncomfortable if she could feel it.  But she did not like laying down on the table while mom and dad stood around.  We had to wear the big metal jackets, and it was really heavy on me and I had just had a c-section so I had to sit down most of the time.  The full exam took probably 30 minutes from prep to clean up, but that's also because she peed pretty quickly and they were able to get all of the images they needed.  I suppose it could have taken longer if she wasn't doing what they wanted.  If you are going to a children's hospital or one that is familiar with kids and these tests, then they'll have lots to look at, like stickers and pictures on the ceiling, bubbles, maybe even a TV to watch a show.  Bring toys and books and things that would be a special treat for him, or htings you know will distract him for a while.

Good luck!  

rsweethart

DD2 had two VCUG's done and neither were pleasant, not sure if it was because she is a drama queen though.  The hospital had a DVD player and toys there, but they weren't really helpful.  She had to lay on a large x-ray table.  I held her head still and the nurses held her legs while they inserted the cath (they were really quick).  As they filled my daughters bladder she screamed more, you could see her belly start to get really hard/full.  There was a huge tv that you could see the x-rays.  We were lucky, both times the doctor and nurses explained what we were seeing on the screen.  The first time took a lot longer, my daughter was so scared she wouldn't empty her bladder.  They had her stand up for a little and then she had to lay down again.  The hospital staff were great and they explained everything to me.  The second time my daughter was older, so the the child life person spoke to my DD and had a doll to explain what was going to happen.     

ppants

I'm a nuclear medicine tech and perform VCUGs.  We allow one parent to come back with the patient.  How old is DS?  If he's an infant, then the catheterization part goes quick because they are smaller and easier to hold still.  If he's a toddler, it's more difficult obviously. 

Once the cathether is in, a small amount of a radioactive tracer is instilled into the bladder and the bladder is filled with saline.  Pictures are being taken while the bladder is filling.  Once the bladder is full, another image is done with a full bladder.  The cathether is removed and the patient will void into a container to measure the amount of urine.  If patient isn't PT, then we wait to see if they pee and then take a post void image.

The entire process takes about 20 min.  Our dr's have a computer dictation system, so once they dictate the report and sign it, it's available for review on the computer.  Good luck and I hope you get some answers soon.