Paraguay's public healthcare system has reached a historic milestone with the successful completion of the first high-complexity biventricular pacemaker implant with physiological left bundle branch area pacing in a public hospital. The procedure, considered one of the most significant advances in cardiac electrophysiology, was successfully performed at the National Institute of Cardiology "Prof. Dr. Juan Adolfo Cattoni," which is part of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare.
The beneficiary patient is a 74-year-old man who was admitted to the Cardiology Service after presenting with a complex cardiovascular condition. He suffered from severe aortic stenosis and, after undergoing a percutaneous aortic valve replacement (TAVI) procedure, developed atrioventricular block and complete left bundle branch block, conditions that required a highly specialized solution.
The technique used, which more naturally reproduces the heart's electrical conduction, offers better ventricular synchronization, preserves heart muscle function, and reduces the risk of complications compared to conventional systems. The patient is progressing favorably and is expected to be discharged in the coming days.
The intervention was led by the Institute's General Director, Dr. César Delmás, and electrophysiologist Dr. José Alderete, with the support of a multidisciplinary team. The modernization that enabled the procedure was funded by Itaipu Binacional, which equipped the hospital with a monoplane angiograph, an extracorporeal circulation machine, and a C-arm X-ray device, all essential for high-complexity cardiovascular interventions.
With this first intervention, the public health system incorporates a cutting-edge technique that positions the National Institute of Cardiology among the centers capable of offering highly specialized procedures, consolidating the modernization of cardiovascular care in Paraguay.