Myocardial biopsy

What is Myocardial Biopsy?

Myocardial Biopsy, also known as an endomyocardial biopsy, is a medical procedure where a small amount of tissue is taken from the heart muscle for analysis. This procedure is commonly used to identify certain types of heart diseases such as cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, and other heart conditions. The tissue sample is usually taken from the left ventricle of the heart, which is the most commonly affected area in heart-related diseases.

Preparation for Myocardial Biopsy

Prior to the Myocardial Biopsy procedure, the patient may be asked by their doctor to rest for the day and avoid eating any food or drink within six hours of the scheduled procedure. This is to reduce the risk of bleeding and is often the only preparation needed for the biopsy.

Myocardial Biopsy Procedure

The procedure is done in the hospital and in most cases requires mild sedation. An ultrasound is used to locate the heart muscle. Then, a needle is inserted through the chest wall and directly into the wall of the left ventricle. Once properly positioned, the tip of the needle is used to take several tiny samples of the heart tissue, and then the needle is removed. The period of time for the actual biopsy procedure usually lasts no longer than 15 minutes. Once the process is completed, the tissue samples are sent to the lab to be tested and analyzed.

Types of Myocardial Biopsies

There are two main types of Myocardial Biopsies: Trans-thoracic and Trans-esophageal biopsies. During a Trans-thoracic biopsy, the needle is inserted through the chest wall to obtain the tissue sample. A Trans-esophageal biopsy is done when the sample needs to be taken from the left atrial appendage, which is the most common area for tissue collection in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC).

Risks of Myocardial Biopsy

The risks associated with Myocardial Biopsy are uncommon but can include bleeding, infection, and arrhythmias, or disruptions in the heart’s normal rhythm. There is also a risk of the needle puncturing the wall of the heart.

When is a Myocardial Biopsy Used?

Myocardial Biopsy is used mainly to diagnose heart diseases, such as cardiomyopathy and heart failure. It can also provide insight into certain arrhythmia disorders, as well as rule out possible causes of an unknown heart condition. This procedure is typically only used if a comprehensive evaluation of the heart has not been conducted with other tests, such as an echocardiogram or cardiac MRI.

Why is Myocardial Biopsy Used?

Myocardial Biopsy is one of the most sensitive and specific diagnostic tools for evaluating the heart and can provide valuable information on the patient’s condition that cannot be obtained with other methods. In addition, Myocardial Biopsy can provide a more accurate assessment of certain types of heart diseases, such as cardiomyopathies, than other tests alone.