The Quirónsalud Bizkaia Hospital has launched a Arrhythmia Unit specialized with the aim of improving diagnosis and treatment of heart rhythm disorders through a comprehensive approach and advanced techniques in the patient's own environmentThe creation of this unit responds to the increase in these types of pathologies in daily clinical practice, especially in an increasingly aging population with a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors. Within arrhythmias, the atrial fibrillation It is the most frequent. According to the Spanish Society of CardiologyIt affects approximately 4,4% of the population over 40 years of age in Spain and its presence increases significantly with age.
In this context, Dr. José Ramón Rumoroso, The head of the Cardiology Department at Quirónsalud Bizkaia Hospital explains in simple terms what an arrhythmia is: "When we talk about arrhythmias, we are talking about an alteration of the heart rhythm caused by a problem in the heart's electrical system, which is responsible for coordinating each heartbeat. When this system fails, the heart can beat too fast, too slow, or irregularly."
Symptoms that may go unnoticed
Arrhythmias don't always manifest clearly. In some cases, they produce obvious symptoms, but in others, they can go unnoticed or be detected incidentally, for example, when taking your pulse or blood pressure and noticing an irregular rhythm. Meanwhile, Dr. Juan Benezet, The head of the center's Arrhythmia Unit explains that, when symptoms appear, arrhythmias associated with high heart rates can cause "palpitations, dizziness, or fainting, which significantly affect quality of life." However, she warns that they don't always present clear signs: "Some arrhythmias may not produce symptoms and yet still be associated with serious cardiovascular complications."
This situation is especially relevant in the case of the atrial fibrillationThe most common arrhythmia, which can go unnoticed for a long time. According to the Spanish Society of Cardiology, This condition can increase the risk of stroke fivefold if it is not properly diagnosed and treated.
Discovery precise and specialized approach
El diagnosis The diagnosis of arrhythmias usually begins with simple tests, such as an electrocardiogram or monitoring of the heart rhythm for several hours or days, which allow for the detection of alterations in the heartbeat.
As Dr. José Ramón Rumoroso explains, "in many cases, with these basic tests we already obtain enough information to guide the diagnosis and decide on the next steps. From there, when necessary, we can resort to more specific studies such as The electrophysiological study allows us to analyze the heart's electrical system in detail and identify the origin of the arrhythmia." Dr. Juan Benezet points out that this type of study allows us to "identify c"It accurately determines the origin of tachycardia, palpitations, or syncope and, in many cases, is also part of the treatment itself."
In these cases, an ablation can be performed, a minimally invasive procedure that consists of acting on the area of the heart responsible for the arrhythmia to eliminate it. This treatment can be carried out using different technologies, such as radiofrequency (heat), cryoablation (cold) or, more recently, electroporation, which pursue the same objective: to block the abnormal electrical signals that cause the irregular rhythm.
The Arrhythmia Unit incorporates electroporation and advanced techniques
The Arrhythmia Unit incorporates electroporation, one of the most recent techniques in the treatment of certain arrhythmias, especially the atrial fibrillationAs Dr. Juan Benezet explains, "it is a technology that uses high-intensity, very short-duration electrical impulses to act selectively on the cardiac tissue responsible for the arrhythmia"Unlike traditional techniques, which use heat or cold, electroporation uses electrical pulses that act directly on heart cells, allowing for more precise treatment with less impact on nearby structures.
Dr. José Ramón Rumoroso highlights that "The incorporation of these technologies allows us to adapt the treatment to each patient and improve both the safety and effectiveness of the procedures." In addition to electroporation, the unit performs other interventional procedures such as radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation, as well as the implantation of devices like pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators. "All of this translates into less invasive treatments, with a lower risk of complications and a faster recovery, allowing patients to resume their normal activities sooner," Rumoroso concludes.
