What is Atrial Fibrillation and Why Does It Concern Specialists?
Atrial fibrillation is the most common tachyarrhythmia (arrhythmia with a fast heart rate) in the population. It is a chronic disease primarily linked to age, high blood pressure, and diabetes, though it can also manifest in young and healthy patients.
Its symptoms include palpitations, dizziness, lack of energy, shortness of breath, and fatigue. The sensation is that the heart races for no apparent reason and beats unevenly, as if it is out of sync.
⚠️ Key Fact: Atrial fibrillation is the leading cause of disabling stroke and is associated with higher mortality and heart failure.
Risk Factors on the Rise
Dr. Maximiliano Massa, from the Electrophysiology and Arrhythmia Service at the ICBA Cardiovascular Institute (a prominent medical center in Buenos Aires, Argentina), points out that diagnoses have grown due to multiple factors:
- 📉 Better detection thanks to smartwatches and new monitoring technologies
- 📈 Increase in life expectancy
- 🍔 Poor control of prevalent risk factors: hypertension, overweight, sedentary lifestyle, diabetes, and sleep apnea
- 😤 Stress and poor modern lifestyle habits as triggers
Ablation: A Paradigm Shift
Cardiac ablation is a minimally invasive procedure performed with catheters inserted through blood vessels to the heart. It allows doctors to locate the origin of the arrhythmia and treat it precisely using different types of energy.
Dr. Gastón Albina, deputy chief of the Electrophysiology service at ICBA, highlights that early intervention with ablation is the best tool to improve symptoms and slow the progression of the disease.
From 48-Hour Hospital Stays to Same-Day Discharge
Dr. Fernando Scazzuso, chief cardiologist of Electrophysiology and Arrhythmias at ICBA, explains that there has been a radical paradigm shift in these procedures:
| Stage | Hospitalization Time |
|---|---|
| Beginning of the technique | Up to 48 hours |
| Intermediate stage | One night |
| Current reality | 4 hours of observation + same-day discharge |
This evolution towards an outpatient procedure has allowed for a much faster and more comfortable recovery for patients.
📈 Treatment Results
- ✅ 85% success rate with the first procedure
- ✅ Only 15% recurrence rate
- ✅ Up to 40% reduction in mortality for patients with heart failure
- ✅ 86% stop taking antiarrhythmic and anticoagulant medication
- ✅ 75% fewer cardioversions required
- ✅ 65% fewer emergency room visits
- ✅ 40% increase in procedure rates over the last year
💥 The New Technology: Pulsed Fields
At the end of June 2026, the ICBA implemented an innovative pulsed field ablation technology, which was broadcast live to medical professionals.
This technique uses a non-thermal energy source that delivers brief, controlled electrical pulses to interrupt the irregular signals causing atrial fibrillation, treating specific areas of the heart and reducing the impact on other tissues.
Argentina at the Forefront of Cardiac Care
Dr. Scazzuso emphasizes that this advancement has very important relevance for national electrophysiology, as it positions Argentina within the group of countries that have access to state-of-the-art technology for treating atrial fibrillation.