Renal denervation

Renal denervation is a procedure that involves catheter-based radiofrequency ablation via femoral access to knock out the sympathetic nerves that run adjacent to the renal arteries. New developments with this technique have caused much debate.

The publication of Simplicity HTN-3, a controlled trial of renal denervation to treat resistant hypertension, has raised more questions than it has answered. Research into renal denervation in heart failure (both reduced ejection fraction and preserved ejection fraction) as well as in the diabetic population is continuing within our department.