International Heart Institute offers new minimally invasive procedure for difficult-to-control high blood pressure

Loma Linda University International Heart institute is now offering a newly approved treatment for patients with uncontrolled high blood pressure: a minimally invasive procedure called renal denervation (RDN), performed using the Symplicity™ Spyral system. This FDA-approved technology targets overactive nerves near the kidneys that contribute to elevated blood pressure, offering hope to patients whose hypertension has not responded well to conventional treatment.

Nearly half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure, and a large portion of those individuals still struggle to manage the condition despite taking medication or making lifestyle adjustments. Untreated or poorly controlled hypertension increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and kidney disease.

Vinoy Prasad, MD, director of interventional cardiology at Loma Linda University Health, says this new option fills a critical treatment gap for patients living with chronic high blood pressure.

“This procedure represents a valuable next step for patients who have exhausted first-line treatments but still face cardiovascular risks,” Prasad said. “Renal denervation gives us a way to calm the overactive nerves that may be contributing to a patient’s high blood pressure, without leaving any implant behind.”

The Symplicity™ blood pressure procedure involves guiding a thin catheter through a blood vessel to reach the arteries near the kidneys. There, the physician uses controlled energy to disrupt the nerve signals contributing to elevated blood pressure. The catheter is then removed, and no implant is left in the body. The treatment is performed under mild sedation and typically requires minimal recovery time.

Loma Linda University Health continues to integrate the latest medical advancements into its cardiovascular care programs, combining evidence-based treatments with its mission to provide whole-person, faith-based care.

This new option reinforces LLUH’s focus on prevention and proactive disease management. RDN is not a first-line treatment, but for patients who have tried multiple medications and still cannot reach target blood pressure levels, it could offer lasting benefit.

As part of its integrated approach to treating hypertension, LLUH also offers a dedicated Hypertension Clinic for the comprehensive management of systemic hypertension. Led by medical director Alec Kherlopian, MD, the clinic focuses on evaluating reversible causes, promoting lifestyle interventions, and initiating medical therapy with close blood pressure monitoring. This multidisciplinary effort is a cornerstone of the broader Renal Denervation program.

Hypertension, often called the “silent killer,” can cause serious damage to the heart, brain, and kidneys without noticeable symptoms. Regular blood pressure monitoring and management are key to long-term health.

Loma Linda University International Heart Institute care teams are committed to providing patients with compassionate, comprehensive, and personalized cardiovascular care. To learn more, please visit Peripheral Arterial and Venous Disease or call 1-800-468-5432 to make an appointment.