DALLAS, Texas – Baylor Scott & White Heart and Vascular Hospital – Dallas has added an innovative, minimally invasive option for patients with hypertension, or high blood pressure.

The new FDA-approved renal denervation system allows an interventional cardiologist to modify the patient's renal nerves which run along the arteries supplying blood to the kidneys. This procedure allows access without damaging the arteries, complementing medication and lifestyle changes to treat hypertension.

Hypertension is the leading modifiable cause of heart attack, stroke, and death, and its prevalence is notably worse in underserved U.S. populations. 

The procedure involves a spiral-shaped catheter inserted into the patient's renal arteries to send ultrasound or radiofrequency energy to destroy the renal nerves without damaging the arteries. The reduced nerve activity causes a drop in blood pressure.

Baylor Scott & White Heart and Vascular Hospital – Dallas was the leading enroller in the clinical trial, which studied the efficacy of this renal denervation system.

"This procedure is incredibly effective at reducing blood pressure," said Robert Stoler, MD, the site's principal investigator. "This technology will help patients get better control of their resistant hypertension. Many patients with hypertension are under 50 so this technology can greatly improve their lives for decades."

The procedure is now available commercially in Texas. The first minimally invasive procedure using this technology was performed last week. 

"We continuously evaluate treatment options for our patients," said Nancy Vish, president and chief nursing officer at Baylor Scott & White Heart and Vascular Hospital – Dallas. "This technology will help provide an innovative option for those suffering with resistant hypertension and give our patients better outcomes." 

Baylor Scott & White Heart and Vascular Hospital – Dallas designed a hypertension center to help patients with resistant hypertension manage their blood pressure. The goal of the center's multidisciplinary team, including physicians specializing in hypertension, is to control hypertension by reducing risk factors using a collaborative approach among the patient, the primary care provider, and the hypertension center care team.

"Hypertension is the leading cause of morbidity in the Western world," said Dr. Stoler. "To take this technology from its infancy to its approval by the FDA is extremely gratifying. This technology is going to be applicable to a huge population of patients across the world."

About Baylor Scott & White Health

As the largest not-for-profit health system in the state of Texas, Baylor Scott & White promotes the health and well-being of every individual, family and community it serves. It is committed to making quality care more accessible, convenient and affordable through its integrated delivery network, which includes the Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, the Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance and its leading digital health platform – MyBSWHealth. Through 51 hospitals and more than 1,200 access points, including flagship academic medical centers in Dallas, Fort Worth and Temple, the system offers the full continuum of care, from primary to award-winning specialty care. Founded as a Christian ministry of healing more than a century ago, Baylor Scott & White today serves more than three million Texans. For more information, visit BSWHealth.com.

* Notice Regarding Physician Ownership: Baylor Scott & White Heart and Vascular Hospital – Dallas, including the Waxahachie location, is a hospital in which physicians have an ownership or investment interest. The list of the physician owners or investors is available to you upon request. Physicians provide clinical services as members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Scott & White Health's subsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and do not provide clinical services as employees or agents of those medical centers.

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About Baylor Scott & White Health
As the largest not-for-profit health system in the state of Texas, Baylor Scott & White promotes the health and well-being of every individual, family and community it serves. It is committed to making quality care more accessible, convenient and affordable through its integrated delivery network, which includes the Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, the Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance and its leading digital health platform — MyBSWHealth. Through 52 hospitals and more than 1,300 access points, including flagship academic medical centers in Dallas, Fort Worth and Temple, the system offers the full continuum of care, from primary to award-winning specialty care. Founded as a Christian ministry of healing more than a century ago, Baylor Scott & White today serves more than three million Texans. For more information, visit: BSWHealth.com