The "Bioptome" and Tissue Sampling
The primary tool used is the bioptome, a long, thin, flexible catheter with tiny "tweezer-like" jaws at the tip. In 2026, bioptomes have become more specialized:
Micro-bioptomes: Allow for smaller samples in pediatric patients or those with thin heart walls.
Echo-ready Tips: Enhanced visibility under ultrasound to ensure the surgeon is sampling the interventricular septum (the thick wall between chambers) and not the thinner outer walls, which could lead to perforation.
Typically, 3 to 6 samples are taken to ensure the pathologist has enough tissue to account for the "patchy" nature of many heart diseases.
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