Mon Health offering innovative, new procedure to lower blood pressure

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY) — Mon Health hosted an international team from Japan on Wednesday in order to explain a new, innovative procedure offered at its hospital that works to lower blood pressure.

Renal Denervation (RDN) uses ultrasound waves to significantly lower blood pressure and improve health. Mon Health has used it to treat 20 patients so far, many of whom had previously had strokes and heart attacks. Two of those patients testified at the meeting.

The procedure was developed by Recor Medical. Recor’s parent company, Otsuka Medical Devices Co., Ltd., sent representatives to learn about the hospital’s success as they hope to expand the availability of RDN hospitals around the world.

Dr. Bradford Warden, Chief of Cardiology at Mon Health, explained to 12 News how RDN works. He said that the liver releases hormones that control blood pressure. Clinicians put a transmitter in the artery that leads to the kidney, and then the transmitter releases ultrasound waves to stimulate nerves surrounding the artery so the liver does not release the hormones that increase blood pressure. The procedure can cause as much as 20 millimeters of mercury drop in blood pressure. Dr. Warden said that this is a significant drop in blood pressure and is one that is sustained—as opposed to oral medicine where blood pressure might fluctuate depending on if doses are missed.

Dr. Wissam Gharib, Interventional Cardiologist at Mon Health, credits Mon Health and Recor for making RDN at Mon Health possible.

“We want to make sure no one has to leave West Virginia for the kind of care that they need. This is a great example where our doctors identified a device, they found an opportunity and partnered with us,” Mon Health System President and CEO David Goldbert said.

Although the procedure is being offered at Mon Health, it is still very new, meaning that insurance doesn’t fully cover it.

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