Cardiac Biopsy
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What is Cardiac Biopsy?
Cardiac biopsy is a procedure that removes a very small sample of your heart muscle so that it can be evaluated in a lab. A biopsy of the heart is often done to find the cause of a weakened heart muscle (called cardiomyopathy) or to check for rejection after a heart transplant.
UR Medicine's Approach
What happens during a heart biopsy procedure?
A biopsy of the heart involves catheterization, so it’s a minimally invasive procedure–this means everything is done through a very small incision.
- You receive medication through an intravenous (IV) to help you relax. Your blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen level are monitored throughout this procedure.
- After you’re given an anesthetic to numb the area, a small incision is made in your neck. A thin tube called a sheath is inserted. A longer and thinner tube called a catheter is then slid into the sheath. This catheter has a miniature grasping device on the end.
- The catheter is guided through your blood vessels until it reaches your heart. The grasping device then takes a very small sample of your heart muscle. You will not feel any pain as the sample is taken.
- The catheter with the sample is then removed, and the sample is sent to the lab for evaluation. The results of the lab tests will be sent to your doctor.
What Sets Us Apart?
As the region’s only academic medical center, we have exceptionally high standards that help ensure the best results for our patients. Whether you need to control your high blood pressure or seek specialized care for an unusual heart condition, UR Medicine Cardiology has the expertise for you.
Heart biopsies are a routine part of caring for heart transplant patients. UR Medicine is the only hospital in the region that offers heart transplantation for patients with advanced heart failure.
The Cardiac Catheterization Lab UR Medicine Cardiac Care is the most advanced lab of its kind in the Rochester region. We perform many procedures that aren’t available at other hospitals, and we were the first in the region to perform procedures such as angioplasty and coronary stenting.
Our doctors are all fellowship trained—the highest level of training available–and we perform more cardiac biopsies than any other center in our region.
Locations
We serve you in the Rochester metropolitan area and surrounding region.
1 location
Strong Memorial Hospital
601 Elmwood Avenue, Ground Floor, G-1200
Rochester, NY 14620