Heart biopsy: Your recovery
A heart biopsy is a procedure used to take small samples of your heart's tissue for testing. It may be done to check for rejection after a heart transplant or to test for heart problems.
It may seem scary to remove tissue from your heart. But the samples are very small. They should not affect how your heart works.
Your doctor put a thin, flexible tube (catheter) into a blood vessel in your neck, groin, or arm. The catheter helped guide a small tool into one of the chambers of your heart. Your doctor used this tool to take tissue samples. Your doctor may also have injected a dye into your blood vessel and heart. The dye shows up on a screen so your doctor can see where to move the tool. Or your doctor may have used an ultrasound or echocardiogram to see where to move the catheter.
You may have swelling, bruising, or a small lump around the site where the catheter went into your body. You can do light activities around the house. But do not do anything strenuous until your doctor says it is okay. This lets the catheter site heal.
Heart biopsy: When to call
Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:
- You passed out (lost consciousness).
- You have symptoms of sudden heart failure. These may include:
- Severe trouble breathing.
- Coughing up pink, foamy mucus.
- You have symptoms of a heart attack. These may include:
- Chest pain or pressure, or a strange feeling in the chest.
- Sweating.
- Shortness of breath.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Pain, pressure, or a strange feeling in the back, neck, jaw, or upper belly or in one or both shoulders or arms.
- Lightheadedness or sudden weakness.
- A fast or irregular heartbeat.
After you call 911, the operator may tell you to chew 1 adult-strength or 2 to 4 low-dose aspirin. Wait for an ambulance. Do not try to drive yourself.
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
- You are bleeding from the area where the catheter was put in.
- You have a fast-growing, painful lump at the catheter site.
- You have symptoms of infection, such as:
- Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness.
- Red streaks leading from the area.
- Pus draining from the catheter site.
- A fever.
- Your leg, arm, or hand is painful, looks blue, or feels cold, numb, or tingly.
- You have new or changed symptoms of heart failure, such as:
- New or increased shortness of breath.
- New or worse swelling in your legs, ankles, or feet.
- Sudden weight gain, such as more than 2 to 3 pounds in a day or 5 pounds in a week. (Your doctor may suggest a different range of weight gain.)
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded or like you may faint.
- Feeling so tired or weak that you can't do your usual activities.
- Not sleeping well. Shortness of breath wakes you at night. You need extra pillows to prop yourself up to breathe easier.
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if you have any problems.
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