ECHO-GUIDED ENDOMYOCARDIAL BIOPSY IN HETEROTOPIC HEART-TRANSPLANTATION - CASE-REPORT

Right ventricular endomyocardial biopsy is difficult to perform in pat ients who underwent heterotopic heart transplantation because of the c omplex vascular anatomy. The procedure is usually performed under fluo roscopic control. We present a case of a 59-year-old woman that after heterotopic heart transplantation underwent echo-guided endomyocardial biopsy. We report the technique discussing data obtained in other 11 patients heart transplanted in the heterotopic way. In conclusion we b elieve that echocardiographic guidance during endomyocardial biopsy al lows a better choice of bite sites, reduces the risk of free wall perf oration. Moreover is diminished the risk of X-ray exposure to both pat ient and operator.