title: Endomyocardial biopsy - jugular/subclavian vein approach.
abstract: Endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) is a diagnostic procedure mainly to survey the sufficiency of immunosuppressive therapy after cardiac transplantation. Other indications for EMB remain controversial. After insertion of an introducer sheet in Seldinger's technique, four to six biopsies are taken from the right ventricle by fluoroscopic guidance. EMB is a very safe operation with a low complication rate which can be rapidly performed with little inconvenience for the patient if performed by a skilled surgeon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical University Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Juliane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kilo
authors.forename: Guenther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Laufer
authors.forename: Herwig
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Antretter