Quirónsalud Bizkaia Hospital has launched a specialized Arrhythmia Unit with the aim of improving the diagnosis and treatment of heart rhythm disorders through a comprehensive approach and advanced techniques in the patient's own environment . The 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 . Among arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation is the most common. According to the Spanish Society of Cardiology , it affects approximately 4,4% of the population over 40 years of age in Spain, and its prevalence increases significantly with age.
In this context, Dr. José Ramón Rumoroso, head of the Cardiology Department at Quirónsalud Bizkaia Hospital, explains simply 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 present clear symptoms. In some cases, they produce obvious signs, 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. Dr. Juan Benezet , Head of the Arrhythmia Unit at the center, explains that when symptoms do appear, arrhythmias associated with high heart rates can cause "palpitations, dizziness, or fainting, which significantly affect quality of life." However, he warns that they don't always give clear signs: "There are arrhythmias that may not produce symptoms and yet still be associated with significant cardiovascular complications."
This situation is especially relevant in the case of atrial fibrillation , the most common arrhythmia, which can go undetected for some time. According to the Spanish Society of Cardiology, this condition can increase the risk of stroke fivefold if it is not diagnosed and treated properly.
Discovery precise and specialized approach
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, these basic tests provide enough information to guide the diagnosis and determine the next steps. From there, when necessary, we can resort to more specific studies such as electrophysiological studies, which allow 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 “ precisely identify the origin of tachycardia, palpitations, or syncope and, in many cases, is also part of the treatment itself.”
In these cases, ablation can be performed, a minimally invasive procedure that involves targeting the area of the heart responsible for the arrhythmia to eliminate it. This treatment can be carried out using different technologies, such as radiofrequency ablation (heat), cryoablation (cold), or, more recently, electroporation, all of which aim to achieve the same goal: blocking the abnormal electrical signals that cause the irregular heartbeat.
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 atrial fibrillation . As Dr. Juan Benezet explains, "This technology uses high-intensity, very short-duration electrical impulses to selectively target the heart tissue responsible for the arrhythmia ." Unlike traditional techniques that use heat or cold, electroporation uses electrical pulses that act directly on the heart cells, allowing for more precise treatment with less impact on nearby structures.
Dr. José Ramón Rumoroso emphasizes that "the incorporation of these technologies allows us to tailor the treatment to each patient and improve both the safety and efficacy 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 (ICDs). "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.
