PSYCHOLOGICAL AND CLINICAL EFFECTS OF RENAL BIOPSY PERFORMED USING SEDATION

A sedation regimen using sequential oral trinepazine, intravenous Peth co (pethidine, chlorpromazine and promethazine) and diazemuls was eval uated in children having native kidney (n = 17) and transplant kidney (n = 17) biopsies. Biopsy was successful in all cases, with no serious side effects. A self-reported scale of memory recall and pain percept ion showed the optimal time for biopsy to be between 30 and 90 min aft er the intravenous Pethco. The child's level of distress was measured by a self-reported scale, a parent-reported scale and an observational scale for doctors and nurses; 45% of children rated themselves highly distressed prior to the procedure, their parents being the best asses sors of this distress. Younger children and those undergoing native ki dney biopsy had less understanding of the procedure. Children's worrie s could be clearly categorised into procedural and outcome issues: tho se undergoing transplant biopsy were more worried about outcome, where as those undergoing native kidney biopsy were more worried about the p rocedure.