What to expect when your child needs a VCUG
Your child’s doctor has requested a test to examine your child’s bladder, ureters and kidneys called a voiding cystourethrogram, or a VCUG. Since your child trusts you most, it is important to explain what to expect during this hospital visit. For younger children, it’s best to explain right before coming in for the test.
Sometimes it is difficult to know how to describe this test to children. If you would like our help explaining what to expect, please call a child life specialist at 253-403-2260.
Things to consider
You and your child are welcome to ask any questions at any time before, during or after the test.
We encourage and welcome your presence to provide your child with support during the test. Research has shown that parental presence during a hospital experience is important for a child’s coping. Pregnant individuals will have to wait outside or behind the shield in the room during the procedure. In this case, we ask that another familiar adult stay with your child during the procedure to help comfort them. Siblings may not be present during the test. Please make arrangements for their care ahead of time.
Please bring comfort items for your child, such as a pacifier, bottle, blanket, stuffed animal, a book or favorite toy for them to have during the test. There are no shots or needles involved in this test.
During the test
Your child will change into a hospital gown and then lie on a special X-ray table. Your child’s privacy will be maintained through the use of sheets or towels.
After your child lies down on the table, they will be asked to:
- For girls: Make frog legs or butterfly wings (knees bent out with the bottoms of their feet touching)
- For boys: Make their legs straight and rest them on the table
Please let your child know that they have a very important job to do, and that is to lie very still.
A nurse will clean your child’s private area with a special soap and will then put a catheter (a small, thin, soft tube) into your child’s bladder through the urethra (opening where urine comes out) and tape it in place.
The X-ray camera will then be placed over your child. The camera will come close to your child, but it will not touch them. The catheter will then be connected to a bottle of liquid called contrast. It will slowly fill your child’s bladder. Pictures will be taken of your child’s bladder and kidneys. Your child may feel like they have to urinate, but they need to hold it until the bladder is full.
Once your child’s bladder is full, they will then be asked to urinate in a bedpan, or on a pad or towels, while lying on the X-ray table. The catheter will come out when your child begins to urinate. You may need to encourage your child to urinate, as it may feel funny to do this lying down. This is how the doctor gets the best pictures of the kidneys and bladder, so it’s very important to follow these directions.
It is possible your child may experience some discomfort during the procedure. Please tell the doctor, nurse or technologist if your child experiences pain.
After the test
After all the pictures have been taken, your child can get cleaned up and dressed.
Encourage your child to drink extra fluids to urinate more frequently. This will help with any irritation or burning sensations that sometimes occur after having a catheter.
The results from this procedure will be sent to your child’s referring doctor, typically within a few days. Please contact your child’s doctor for follow-up information and to discuss any questions you may have on the findings and any recommended treatment.
Contact us
To schedule an appointment, please call 253-792-6220.