Chennai, May 31 (FN Agency) Apollo Hospitals Chennai has achieved a remarkable world-first by successfully performing the Simplicity Spyral renal denervation (RDN) therapy on a patient with an ectopic kidney. Dr. Refai Showkathali, Senior Consultant, Interventional Cardiology, and his team performed this pioneering procedure to treat resistant hypertension on a 58-year-old man with uncontrolled blood pressure despite being on a maximum medical regimen. Talking to reporters on Thursday, Dr Refai said hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a prevalent condition affecting nearly one-third of individuals over 40 years old. Controlling blood pressure is crucial, as even a modest 5mmHg reduction can decrease the risk of stroke by 34%, ischemic heart disease by 21%, and mortality by 13%. The patient had an ectopic left kidney located in the right iliac fossa, supplied by two separate renal arteries – an extremely rare anatomical variation.
The innovative RDN therapy involved radio frequency ablation of both renal arteries, leading to a remarkable reduction in the patient’s blood pressure from over 160/100 mmHg to 130/80 mmHg within a day. He was discharged the next day, requiring only two medications instead of the previous five. Dr. Refai Showkathali said this procedure offers new hope for patients with complex resistant hypertension conditions. The patient’s significant improvement demonstrates the therapy’s potential in managing obstinate cases of high blood pressure. Medtronic Global has confirmed this is the first-ever use of the FDA-approved Simplicity Spyral RDN catheter in ectopic kidneys worldwide, out of approximately 20,000 procedures performed globally. While appropriate medication and lifestyle modifications are the frontline treatments for hypertension, some patients may require additional interventions like RDN for better blood pressure control.