Infirmary Health Heart & Vascular Institute treats first patient using new, minimally invasive technology to help control high blood pressure

The Infirmary Health Heart & Vascular Institute is pleased to announce the treatment of the first patient with a new renal denervation (RDN) procedure, now offered for certain patients with high blood pressure. Dr. Stanley N. Thornton, interventional cardiologist, performed the first procedure in the Gulf Coast Region at Thomas Hospital. High blood pressure (or hypertension) is the single largest contributor to death,¹ and affects about 50% of U.S. adults.² Of the U.S. adults who are aware of their hypertension, about 80% do not have it under control.³

Recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Symplicity Spyral™ renal denervation (RDN) system involves a minimally-invasive procedure that targets nerves near the kidneys that can become overactive and cause high blood pressure. The procedure is approved for use as an adjunctive treatment in patients with hypertension when lifestyle changes and antihypertensive medications do not adequately control blood pressure. The procedure is clinically proven to help reduce high blood pressure,^4-6 which can lower serious health risks.⁷

Thomas Hospital’s award-winning cardiovascular program provides some of the most comprehensive, state-of-the-art heart care across the Gulf Coast Region. They are home to Baldwin County’s only open-heart surgery program, as well as a newly-expanded cardiac cath lab, electrophysiology lab, and other cardiovascular-focused initiatives. For more information about Thomas Hospital, visit thomashospital.org

If you or someone you know is experiencing high or difficult-to-control blood pressure, talk to your doctor to see if the Symplicity blood pressure procedure is a possible treatment option. Learn more about the Infirmary Health Heart & Vascular Institute and find a cardiovascular specialist near you by visiting infirmaryhealth.org.

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1. WHO. Hypertension fact sheet. September 13, 2019. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hypertension. Accessed February 15, 2022. 2. Kandzari DE, Böhm M, Mahfoud F, et al. Effect of renal denervation on blood pressure in the presence of antihypertensive drugs: 6-month efficacy and safety results from the SPYRAL HTN-ON MED proof-of-concept randomised trial. The Lancet. 2018 Jun 9;391(10137):2346-2355.
2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Control Hypertension. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General; 2020.
3. Facts about Hypertension. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/facts.htm. Accessed August 10, 2023.
4. Kandzari DE, Böhm M, Mahfoud F, et al. Effect of renal denervation on blood pressure in the presence of antihypertensive drugs: 6-month efficacy and safety results from the SPYRAL HTN-ON MED proof-of-concept randomised trial. The Lancet. 2018 Jun 9;391(10137):2346-2355.
5. Böhm M, Kario K, Kandzari DE, et al. Efficacy of catheter-based renal denervation in the absence of antihypertensive medications (SPYRAL HTN-OFF MED Pivotal): a multicentre, randomized, sham-controlled trial. The Lancet 2020; Published online March 29, 2020. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30554-7.
6. Townsend RR, Mahfoud F, Kandzari DE, et al. Catheter-based renal denervation in patients with uncontrolled hypertension in the absence of antihypertensive medications (SPYRAL HTN-OFF MED): a randomised, sham-controlled, proof-of-concept trial. The Lancet. 2017;390:2160–2170.
7. Ettehad D, Emdin CA, Kiran A, et al. Blood pressure lowering for prevention of cardiovascular disease and death: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet. 2016;387:957-67.