The Durham VA Health Care System has achieved a significant milestone. Its doctors conducted the first Renal Denervation procedure. It was done within the Veterans Health Administration at the Durham VA Medical Center on December 15, 2023.
Renal Denervation is a medical procedure. It usesuses specialized technology to disrupt nerve signals to the kidneys, treating high blood pressure and related conditions. The inaugural procedure was performed by Dr. Antonio Gutierrez, Cath Lab Director at the Durham VA Health Care System, and Dr. Rajesh Swaminathan, DVAHCS Chief of Cardiology.
Dr. Antonio Gutierrez said:
“This is the first renal denervation procedure done in the entire VA Health Care System since FDA approval”
He highlighted the prevalence of hypertension among veterans. It ranges from 71 to 87 percent, and emphasized the advanced technology now available to treat the nerves around the arteries.
Dr. Rajesh Swaminathan said:
“Renal denervation is a new technology to treat BP that is safe, durable, and is ‘always on’”
He noted that traditional strategies, including lifestyle changes and medications, have plateaued in effectiveness over the last decade.
The procedure aims to provide a long-term reduction in blood pressure. It is especially important for veterans who may not respond well to medication alone. The first patient to receive this new treatment was U.S. Army Veteran Michael Moon, the US Dept of Veteran Affairs reports.
