Hypertension, the medical term for high blood pressure, is known as a silent killer because it can threaten heart health without any noticeable symptoms.
It is usually treated through medications and increased physical activity and dietary changes.
Beginning this year, the U. S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a surgical procedure to stabilize hypertension numbers.
Ultrasound renal denervation is an outpatient procedure that calms overactive nerves from the kidneys. These nerves can cause hypertension, which can weaken the circulatory system and lead to heart attack or stroke.
In the procedure, 3-millimeter incisions are made in the groin and catheters are inserted into both kidneys. Using ultrasound energy, the nerves are calmed, resulting in lower blood pressure readings.
This is a one-time operation. If it doesn’t completely resolve the hypertension problem, it may reduce it enough so that medications will be a successful course of action, said Omer Zuberi, an interventional cardiologist at Ascension St. Vincent’s Clay County.
Patients are given a local anesthetic for the procedure, which takes 45 minutes to one hour.
After the operation, patients are advised to rest for 24 hours and not to go to work the next day after the operation. It is not a painful operation, Zuberi said, an interventional cardiologist at Ascension St. Vincent’s Clay County.
The process is for patients who have not been able to keep blood pressure measurements at or below 140 over 90 and who have found prescription drugs and lifestyle changes are not reducing blood pressure readings. Candidates must be on three nonresponsive blood pressure medicines before being considered for the procedure, Zuberi said.
Most patients who are tired of the expense and daily ritual of taking blood pressure pills are interested in the procedure, he said.
“We have seen around a 10-millimeter drop in blood pressure with this procedure. It brings it down to the same degree as with any blood pressure pill, but without having the burden of taking another medication every day,” he said.
Zuberi spoke of a patient he had been treating for several years who didn’t respond well to medication. That person turned out to be a perfect candidate.
“I cannot leave his blood pressure at 160. If I did, then I’d put him at an increased risk for cardiovascular events and strokes,” Zuberi said.
“He agreed to do the procedure and within 15 days he followed up with me. His blood pressure was in normal range. That was the most impressive result that I have so far. But most of the patients responded very well to therapy.”
Zuberi has been doing the procedure since the start of 2025. No special training was necessary, as the surgery is similar to others he does using microsurgery techniques.
The operation is also performed at Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside.
Ultrasound renal denervation is covered by Medicare, but private insurance companies have been slow to make it part of standard coverage. Zuberi said insurers have reacted similarly to other new drugs and procedures.
“The first line of therapy is blood pressure pills. But if somebody is intolerant to them or still requiring more and more blood pressure medication without it being controlled to target, then this therapy comes into play.”
