Myocardial biopsy
Find a heart specialistBeing diagnosed with heart disease can be stressful and you may be looking for answers about what comes next. Getting a heart biopsy can help your doctor determine the cause of your heart disease and the best course of treatment to help you get better.
What is a myocardial biopsy?
A myocardial biopsy, also called a heart biopsy, is an invasive procedure in which small samples of heart tissue are removed and sent to a lab for analysis.
Doctors use myocardial biopsies to check for cardiac amyloidosis (abnormal protein deposits in the heart tissue), signs of rejection after a heart transplant or various types of cardiomyopathy (a heart muscle disease).
Prior to the procedure you'll see your physician for personalized guidelines to prepare including:
- Refraining from eating or drinking anything after midnight the night before your procedure
- How to get ready for your procedure including any medications you may need to stop taking
- Answering your questions and concerns
The myocardial biopsy procedure should take 30 to 60 minutes. You may receive a mild sedative to help you relax during the biopsy.
Your doctor will thread a catheter through a blood vessel in either your groin or neck to your heart and remove small pieces of heart tissue. Your doctor also may take pressure readings from inside the heart chambers.
You’ll be able to go home after the biopsy. Be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home.
Before you go home, we’ll give you instructions to care for the wound site and when you can resume your normal activities.
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