Two articles published in Heart Rhythm demonstrate the feasibility and safety of this novel method.

EMB carries a complication risk of up to 3%. It is usually performed only when noninvasive methods fail to provide a definitive diagnosis or necessary histology, which may lead to diagnostic delays. This novel streamlined process reduces the risk of complications. It also allows doctors to diagnose heart conditions like cardiomyopathy and heart failure earlier, enabling them to start treatment sooner, which can improve the patient’s outcome. Additionally, early diagnosis can help identify genetic causes of the heart condition, which can benefit other family members.

John Silberbauer, MA, MD(Res), FRCP, Sussex Cardiac Center, Brighton, UK, first author of the accompanying editorial commentary “Pace and Biopsy,” explains, “Improving the ease, diagnostic yield, and the safety profile of EMB may enable earlier diagnosis and treatment of a range of cardiac conditions, bringing us closer to how other medical specialties manage tissue diagnoses.