New 'revolutionary procedure' at Hadassah tackles hypertension

Doctors at Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem have acquired a potent new tool in the battle to control hypertension: an innovative new catheterization technique.

The treatment, called renal denervation, is produced by Ardian Inc., a company owned by leading global medical technology company Medronic. Ardian partners with researchers to develop safe, effective treatment options for managing hypertension.

Renal denervation has tapped into research showing that overactive kidney nerves are a major contributor to the progression of high blood pressure (hypertension). The unique new treatment blocks the overfunctioning nerves, thereby lowering blood pressure. During the treatment, a catheter with an electrode on its tip is threaded into the renal artery, where controlled amounts of electrical energy are applied to kill the nerves involved with hypertension.

The treatment is not covered by Israel's national health insurance system.

“This is a revolutionary procedure that opens a window of opportunity for treating patients who have hypertension and have not responded well to medication,” Professor Chaim Lotan, head of Hadassah Hospital's Heart Institute, said.

“This treatment is still in its initial stages and we [in Israel] are among the first countries to perform the procedure. At this stage, it is intended for patients whose blood pressure remains uncontrolled even after taking large amounts of medication. Renal denervation can reduce the required dosage for some patients, and in others, completely eliminate the need for medication.”

As with all medical procedures, lifestyle changes must also be incorporated. “After the procedure, the patient is still required to adopt a healthy lifestyle which includes good nutrition and exercise,” Lotan said.

According to medical reports, patients who have received the treatment during clinical trials in Europe, Australia and New Zealand reported a significant abatement in their hypertension within a few months of surgery.

“We are partners in the extraordinary revolution that relates to this frequent and fatal disease,” said Professor Haim Danenberg, director of Hadassah's Interventional Cardiology Unit. “The treatment will entirely alter current treatments of hypertension, and I predict that in the future catheterization will be a marked component in the treatment of hypertension.”