title: Feasibility and safety of left ventricular endomyocardial biopsy via transradial access: Technique and initial experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endomyocardial biopsy constitutes an essential part of the diagnostic algorithm in patients with heart failure of unknown origin, but usually requires transfemoral access.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Here, we describe a novel method that allows interventional cardiologists to obtain left ventricular biopsies via transradial access with a 7.5F sheathless multipurpose (MP1.0) guiding catheter. This approach was successfully conducted in 37 consecutive patients at our institution with only one intraprocedural minor complication (ventricular fibrillation during insertion of the guiding catheter).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transradial access to obtain left ventricular endomyocardial biopsies is a feasible and safe option for experienced radial operators.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Eberhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jabs
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gori
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hink
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Efthymios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sotiriou
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Charité, Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tschöpe
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology and Pulmonology, Charité, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Heinz-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Schultheiss
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Münzel
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wenzel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004699:Endocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000379:methods; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061214:Patient Safety; D017534:Radial Artery
keywords: cardiomyopathy; endomyocardial biopsy; transradial access