A new treatment option for patients with uncontrollable high blood pressure is now available at Willis Knighton Health. Willis Knighton is the first healthcare provider in the region to offer Paradise® Ultrasound Renal Denervation, a minimally invasive procedure that helps lower blood pressure in patients with uncontrolled hypertension. Ryan Master, MD, interventional cardiologist with Willis Knighton Pierremont Cardiology, along with Drs. Paul Stafford and Jonathan Davis, performed the procedure at Willis Knighton Heart & Vascular Institute.

Paradise Ultrasound Renal Denervation is an FDA approved system that uses ultrasound energy delivered through a balloon catheter inserted from the femoral artery into the renal artery to reduce activity of sympathetic renal nerves. Dr. Master said clinical trials have shown that renal denervation can be an effective option for patients who are unable to lower blood pressure with changes in lifestyle and medications.

Nearly half of Americans are estimated to have hypertension, which is considered to be 130 mmHg systolic pressure and 80 mmHg diastolic pressure or higher. Only one in four adults have their blood pressure under control. Hypertension can put one at risk for cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and heart failure, stroke, kidney disease and cognitive issues. In 2022, high blood pressure was a primary or contributing cause of 685,875 deaths in the United States.

“Willis Knighton is committed to providing our patients leading technology to improve their overall health and being at the forefront investing in the latest advances in treatment of hypertension and heart disease prevention,” Dr. Master said. “I am glad we now have an alternate treatment to offer our patients who are unable to get goal blood pressure despite having attempted treatment with diet, exercise and medications.”