Endomyocardial biopsy in cats.

A technique for transvenous endomyocardial biopsy of the right ventricle was developed and evaluated for safety and efficacy in anesthetized healthy cats positioned in left lateral recumbency. At least 6 endomyocardial biopsy specimens were obtained from the right ventricle or interventricular septum of 11 cats. In 4 cats, the right jugular vein was torn during attempts to pass the introducing catheter into the right ventricle; however, in only 1 cat did this preclude catheter passage. This cat's heart was biopsied via the left jugular vein. Except for damage to the jugular vein, complications were infrequent, and the biopsy procedure was well tolerated by all cats.