Is This the Prime Time for Transradial Access Left Ventricular Endomyocardial Biopsy?

Left ventricular endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) is an essential tool in the management of myocarditis and is conventionally performed via transfemoral access (TFA). Transradial access EMB (TRA-EMB) is a novel alternative and the authors sought to determine its safety and feasibility by conducting a systematic review of the literature. Medline was searched in 2020, and cohort demographics, procedural details and complications were extracted from selected studies. Four observational studies with a combined total of 496 procedures were included. TRA-EMB was most frequently performed with a sheathless MP1 guide catheter via the right radial artery. The most common complication was pericardial effusion (up to 11% in one study), but pericardial drainage for tamponade was rare (one reported case). Death and mitral valve damage have not been reported. TRA-EMB was successful in obtaining samples in 99% of reported procedures. The authors concluded that TRA-EMB is a safe and feasible alternative to TFA-EMB and the most common complication is uncomplicated pericardial effusion.