Tampa Bay catheter: a new guiding catheter for endomyocardial biopsy via femoral approach

A new method for right ventricular endomyocardial biopsy via the femoral veins: a novel approach employing a right ventriculography catheter (Nishiya type)

We have devised a new method for right ventricular endomyocardial biopsy, in which the use of a right ventriculography catheter (Nishiya Type) allows us to ensure the introduction of a guiding sheath (Cordis, right-angled long sheath) to the apical portion of the right ventricle by way of the femoral vein. With this method, we have biopsied the endomyocardium in 52 patients during the last 4 years. In each case, it only took us several minutes to complete the biopsy procedure. Neither failed applications nor significant complications were seen. We believe that this technique provides a clinically beneficial means as it enables us to readily and safely achieve right ventricular endomyocardial biopsy.

Novel long-neck sheath for endomyocardial biopsy

We studied a novel-shaped long-neck sheath for endomyocardial biopsy through the internal jugular approach. The sheath is designed to provide a stable platform that facilitates direct atraumatic passage of the biopsy forceps in close proximity to and oriented toward the target septal site, which avoids undesirable repetitive recrossing of the right heart structures, thereby minimizing risk of cardiac trauma. This endomyocardial biopsy sheath was easy to advance and position in the heart and consistently provided a stable platform to deliver efficiently and safely the bioptome to the optimal target septal site. The use of this sheath has potential to reduce trauma to the patient, limit radiation exposure, and minimize procedure time.