El Paso, Texas — Las Palmas Del Sol Healthcare recently became the first healthcare system in El Paso to perform a renal denervation procedure for treatment-resistant hypertension. Treatment-resistant hypertension is classified as systolic blood pressure that remains greater than 140/90mmHG despite treatment with three or more hypertensive medications. The minimally invasive procedure targets nerves near the kidneys that can become overactive and cause high blood pressure.
“We are proud to be the first in El Paso to offer a solution for patients facing treatment-resistant hypertension,” Oscar Muñoz, M.D., interventional cardiologist at Las Palmas Medical Center, said. “The ability to provide this treatment to our patients is critical, as high blood pressure is a significant health issue, particularly in El Paso.”
In people with hypertension, the renal nerves are hyperactive, raising blood pressure and contributing to heart attack and stroke. Renal denervation is a minimally invasive, catheter-based procedure performed under mild sedation that regulates the output of the nerves by inserting a thin tube into the walls of the arteries leading to the kidneys. A physician administers energy to calm the excessive activity of the nerves, and then the tube is removed, leaving no implant behind.
“This minimally invasive procedure allows us to address hypertension in a more precise and less invasive way,” Ammar Eljack, M.D., interventional cardiologist at Del Sol Medical Center, said. “For patients, that means we can reduce risk, shorten recovery time and help them return to their daily lives sooner.”
Treatment-resistant hypertension poses a serious health threat to over 10 million Americans. It is an especially dangerous chronic disease because of its association with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including stroke and heart attack, as well as heart failure and kidney disease. Additionally, patients with treatment-resistant hypertension have a threefold increased risk of cardiovascular events compared to those with controlled high blood pressure.
Learn more about the procedures offered at Las Palmas Del Sol Healthcare.