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Why is the doctor performing this test?
To obtain a small
piece of heart tissue for analysis in the laboratory. Myocardial biopsy is
usually performed to evaluate for the presence of rejection after heart
transplant, or to diagnose cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease), such as
myocarditis which is inflammation of the heart muscle.
What is the test?
Myocardial biopsy is an invasive
diagnostic test using a catheter with a grasping device on the end. The catheter
is inserted into a blood vessel in your neck or groin, and threaded to the right
ventricle of your heart. There the grasping device (called a bioptome) obtains a
small piece of heart muscle, about the size of the head of a pin. The catheter
and bioptome with heart muscle attached are carefully removed, and then pressure
is applied over the neck or groin area to stop the bleeding. Following the
procedure, your doctor will examine the tissue for abnormalities.
Where is the test performed?
In the Cardiac
Catheterization Lab.
How long does this test take?
Myocardial biopsy usually
takes 30-60 minutes and requires a short hospital stay of 3 - 4
hours.
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