New Renal Denervation Procedure Treats Uncontrolled Hypertension
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a serious health problem affecting nearly half of the United States population. Left untreated, it can lead to heart attack, heart failure, kidney failure, or stroke. While it can usually be managed by medication and lifestyle changes, some patients suffer from resistant hypertension, experiencing little to no improvement despite multiple medications.
Interventional cardiologists at Albany Medical Center are the first in the Capital Region to offer an innovative treatment for patients with uncontrolled hypertension. Renal Denervation Therapy (RDN) is a minimally invasive, catheter-based procedure that is FDA-approved to treat resistant hypertension by targeting the nerves around the renal (kidney) arteries. Radiofrequency or ultrasound energy is used to reduce nervous system activity in this area, which plays a significant role in regulating blood pressure.
“Renal Denervation Therapy is a novel approach that has shown to be effective in lowering blood pressure in patients whose hypertension is uncontrolled despite the use of multiple antihypertensive medications,” said Neil Yager, DO, MBA, interventional cardiologist at Albany Medical Center and assistant professor of medicine at Albany Medical College. “We’re excited to be the first in the region to offer this therapy to patients.”
The procedure is performed under general anesthetic and most patients go home the same day.
Albany Med performed its first procedure last fall on a patient with a history of severe, treatment-resistant hypertension which could not be controlled despite the use of five different medications.
“After just a month, he experienced a significant reduction in blood pressure and was able to discontinue one of his medications,” said Dr. Yager.
The reduction in overactive nerves leading to the kidney can result in additional improvements over time. The team has since performed five additional RDN procedures.
According to Dr. Yager, building a renal denervation program requires a structured approach. The program involves equipping the center with specialized devices for renal artery catheterization, ensuring that interventional cardiologists are trained in the procedure, and setting up patient selection criteria.
“Multidisciplinary collaboration is crucial, involving cardiologists, nephrologists, nurses and technicians to offer comprehensive counseling before the procedure, ensure proper patient monitoring, and provide follow-up care,” said Dr. Yager. “We are fortunate at Albany Medical Center to have a dedicated team whose support was invaluable in getting this program off the ground.”
The Albany Med Health System is a leader in providing high-quality heart care using the very latest techniques and leading-edge surgical procedures to address routine and complex medical issues. This includes the sophisticated structural heart program at Albany Medical Center. Because the System is an academic health system, our patients have access to clinical trials for new treatments and devices, and they benefit from the ongoing research conducted at Albany Medical College.
Patients can receive heart care at Albany Medical Center, Columbia Memorial Health, Glens Falls Hospital, and Saratoga Hospital, with the option to transfer patients in need of more advanced care to Albany Medical Center.