Diagnosing Heart Disease: Myocardial Biopsy

Heart Disease (Coronary Artery Disease) Slideshow

• Why do I need a Myocardial biopsy?
• How should I prepare for a myocardial biopsy?
• What can I expect during the myocardial biopsy procedure?

Myocardial biopsy, or cardiac biopsy, is procedure that involves using a bioptome (a small catheter with a grasping device on the end) to obtain a small piece of heart muscle tissue to send to a laboratory for analysis.

Why Do I Need a Myocardial Biopsy?

Your doctor uses myocardial biopsy to:

• Evaluate or confirm the presence of rejection after heart transplant.
• Diagnose myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) or the cause of cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease).

How Should I Prepare for the Biopsy?

• You can wear whatever you like to the hospital, but it is a good idea to leave valuables, such as jewelry, at home. You will wear a hospital gown during the procedure.
• Your doctor or nurse will give you specific instructions about what you can and cannot eat or drink before the procedure.
• Ask your doctor what medications should be taken on the day of your test.
• If you are diabetic, ask your doctor how to adjust your medications the day of your test.
• Tell your doctor and/or nurses if you are allergic to anything.
• Arrange for someone to drive you home after the test.

What Can I Expect During the Procedure?

• After you change into a hospital gown, a nurse will start an intravenous (IV) line in your arm so that medications and fluids can be administered during the procedure.
• You will lie on a special table. If you look above, you will see a large camera and several TV monitors
• You will be awake and conscious during the entire procedure. The doctor will use medication to numb the area of your neck. A plastic introducer sheath (a short, hollow tube through which the catheter is placed) is inserted into a blood vessel. A bioptome will be inserted through the sheath and threaded to your right ventricle. An X-ray camera may be used to position the bioptome properly.
• After the bioptome has obtained samples of your heart muscle, (the sample is about the size of the top of a pin), the catheter is removed and firm pressure is held over the area to stop bleeding.
• The procedure takes about 30 to 60 minutes.

From the Doctors at MedicineNet.com

Myocarditis - Learn about myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle caused by infections, viruses, or immune diseases such as sarcoidosis, lupus, pregnancy, and more. Source:MedicineNet Cardiomyopathy (Dilated) - Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) can be inherited,but it is primarily caused by:Severe coronary artery disease, Alcoholism, thyroid disease, diabetes, viral infections of the heart, heart valvue abnormalities, toxic drugs Source:WebMD Medical Reference from The Cleveland Clinic Cardiomyopathy (Hypertrophic) - Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is associated with thickening of the heart Source:WebMD Medical Reference from The Cleveland Clinic Read 9 more Myocardial Biopsy related articles ... So Much to Do, So Little Sleep Head Injuries All Too Common in Summer Play Health Tip: The Word on Wisdom Teeth Health Tip: Make Exercise a Daily Habit New Source of Heart Stem Cells Found Health Highlights: June 23, 2008 Poorer Patients Have Poorer Survival After Cancer Diagnosis One Gene May Be Key to Myeloma Crocodile Babies Cry Out for Hatching Immune Molecule Key to Preventing Organ Rejection