Techniques for right and left ventricular endomyocardial biopsy

Right ventricular endomyocardial biopsy using percutaneous right internal jugular approach proved a safe and easily performed technique in more than 1,300 procedures. Adequate tissue was obtained in more than 98 percent of patients and morbidity rate was remarkably low. Other approaches to the right ventricle may be used, but retrograde left ventricular endomyocardial biopsy appears to be the safest and most reliable alternative to transjugular right ventricular biopsy. The safety and success of the techniques for right and left heart biopsy described depend on meticulous attention to methodologic detail.