Inova introduces a groundbreaking procedure to control resistant high blood pressure

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 50% of adults in America suffer from high blood pressure. Uncontrolled, this condition can lead to severe health complications such as heart disease, stroke, heart failure, kidney disease and dementia.

On April 25, Inova Schar Heart and Vascular unveiled a revolutionary, minimally invasive procedure that can potentially treat uncontrolled high blood pressure for life. The procedure is called ultrasound renal denervation (uRDN) and uses ultrasound technology to treat high blood pressure safely and effectively. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration unanimously approved uRDN in November 2023, and Inova is currently the only healthcare provider in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area performing it.

During the uRDN procedure, doctors insert a small, flexible catheter through the groin into the blood vessels that supply the kidneys. They then use ultrasound energy to “denervate” or calm the overactive nerves surrounding the renal arteries that contribute to high blood pressure. The procedure usually takes less than an hour. Patients typically return home the same day and resume normal activities within a few days.

“Inova is breaking new ground by introducing the latest renal denervation technology to the region. With this cutting-edge treatment option, we’re able to help high-risk patients with resistant hypertension, marking a significant milestone in our commitment to innovative healthcare solutions. I’m proud to be part of a team that’s making a real difference in people’s lives, and I’m hopeful about the broader impact of uRDN across the spectrum of cardiovascular disease,” said Wayne Batchelor, MD, MHS, FSCAI, Associate Director of Inova Schar Heart and Vascular, System Director of Interventional Cardiology at Inova, and Director of Interventional Cardiology Research and Education at Inova.

“This is a promising treatment strategy for patients in whom medical therapy has not been proven to be fully effective,” said Behnam Tehrani, MD, Co-Director of Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories for Inova Fairfax Medical Campus. “It is rewarding to know that an alternative therapy is available for this condition.”

Measuring uRDN’s effectiveness

Inova closely observes the blood pressure of patients who undergo the uRDN procedure for 30 to 60 days to evaluate its long-term effectiveness and safety. We ask patients to electronically send their home blood pressure readings through the Global Paradise System Registry. This registry gathers nationwide data and examines the outcomes of patients who have undergone uRDN treatment. Furthermore, we collect patient-reported outcome data via a quality of life survey. Our team uses this data to ensure the procedure’s efficacy and safety as part of the ongoing Global Paradise System Registry study, for which Dr. Batchelor serves as a coprincipal investigator. 

Who is eligible for uRDN?

“This new technology allows us to treat this growing population of patients in a safe and timely manner, with what appears to be durable results,” said Rajat Garg, MD, FACC, FSCAI, with Virginia Heart and who serves as Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Inova Loudoun Hospital. Patients with resistant high blood puressure despite lifestyle changes who take three or more high blood pressure medications may be good candidates for uRDN. People who meet these criteria are encouraged to discuss this treatment option with their primary care physician, cardiologist or nephrologist. 

Contact us to schedule:

Four uRDN-trained interventional cardiologists currently perform all procedures at Inova Fairfax Hospital. Outpatient consultations can be scheduled though:

• Inova Cardiology – Fairfax: 571-472-2900
• Inova Cardiology – Ashburn: 703-933-2820
• Virginia Heart’s Fairfax & Loudoun offices: 703-621-4501

Inova’s uRDN providers include:

• Wayne Batchelor, MD, MHS
• Rajat Garg, MD
• Eric Pauley, MD
• Behnam Tehrani, MD