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OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the incidence of, and risk factors for, complications of endomyocardial biopsy in children.

BACKGROUND

Endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) is a low risk procedure in adults, but there is a paucity of data with regard to performing this procedure in children.

METHODS

Retrospective review of the morbidity and mortality of 1,000 consecutive EMB procedures.

RESULTS

One thousand EMB procedures (right ventricle 986, left ventricle 14) were performed on 194 patients from July 1987 through March 1996. Indications for EMB included heart transplant rejection surveillance (846) and the evaluation of cardiomyopathy or arrhythmia for possible myocarditis (154). Thirty-seven (4%) procedures were performed on patients receiving intravenous inotropic support. There was one biopsy related death, secondary to cardiac perforation, in a two-week-old infant with dilated cardiomyopathy. There were nine …