First renal denervation at Houston VA targets high blood pressure
Quieting the nerves: A new option for Veterans
High blood pressure just met another challenger at Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) in Houston. The hospital recently performed its first-ever renal denervation procedure, a quick, minimally invasive treatment that targets the nerves driving up blood pressure. For the Veterans who walk through Houston VA’s doors, many of whom carry the physical toll of decades of service, this is another important way VA is fighting for their long-term health.
So, how does it work?
Tucked near your kidneys are nerves that can get a bit overactive, sending signals that raise blood pressure. The Symplicity Spyral system guides a thin tube up to these nerves and delivers a quick burst of energy, quieting them down before slipping back out. There’s no implant or permanent hardware, just calmer nerves and, hopefully, smoother blood pressure control around the clock.
Meeting the challenge of resistant hypertension
That “always on” effect matters, especially for Veterans managing busy lives and unpredictable routines.
Hypertension is the leading cause of death nationwide, affecting nearly half of U.S. adults. Even with awareness, about 80% of people diagnosed still struggle to control their blood pressure with medication and lifestyle changes alone. This is exactly the gap renal denervation aims to fill, not as a replacement for diet, exercise or medication, but as an assist when those aren’t quite enough.
“MEDVAMC is pleased to be able to offer renal denervation to select Veterans with resistant hypertension,” said Dr. Glenn Levine, chief of cardiology. “High blood pressure forces blood to push too hard against artery walls. Over time, this damages organs throughout the body and can cause heart failure, kidney failure and strokes. Controlling blood pressure is critical to our Veterans’ overall health.”
The honor of performing MEDVAMC’s first renal denervation case went to Dr. Jing Liu and MEDVAMC Cath Lab team, dedicated professionals committed to providing Veterans with the latest medical technology. The Cath Lab team’s skill and commitment brought this new tool into the fight against hypertension, strengthening efforts to safeguard Veterans’ hearts and futures.
