MedStar Health Brings Latest Advancement in Treating Uncontrolled High Blood Pressure to MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center

Renal denervation is a new minimally invasive treatment option available to patients now.

CLINTON, Md.- After years of living with dangerously high blood pressure, despite taking approximately 15 pills a day, Washington, D.C., resident Walwyn Watson became the first patient at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center to undergo renal denervation, a new minimally invasive procedure for patients with uncontrolled hypertension.

Approximately 120 million U.S. adults have high blood pressure. But only one in four have it under control, underscoring the need for additional treatment options beyond medications and lifestyle changes.

Diagnosed with hypertension in 2018, Watson frequently recorded systolic blood pressure readings above 200 mm Hg despite taking multiple medications daily. He later suffered both a stroke and heart attack due to the uncontrolled blood pressure, and the condition became so debilitating that he is now on disability.

“This made me feel a lot better,” Watson said. “After everything I’ve been through, it gives me hope that my blood pressure can finally get under control.”

Performed by Brian C. Case, MD, renal denervation is an outpatient procedure that targets overactive nerves in the renal arteries, which play a key role in regulating blood pressure.

“Renal denervation offers a promising option for patients who have struggled for years to control their blood pressure,” said Dr. Case. “The procedure is simple, safe, and can provide meaningful reductions in blood pressure without leaving any permanent device in the body.”

Watson underwent the procedure on April 17, 2026, and returned home the same day. Although patients continue taking their medications while the full effects develop over several months, Watson has already seen encouraging results. His most recent blood pressure measured approximately 154/98 mm Hg, suggesting that it will continue to improve.

Renal denervation was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2023 for the treatment of resistant hypertension, a condition in which blood pressure remains elevated despite the use of multiple medications and healthy lifestyle changes.

During the procedure, a physician makes a small incision in the groin and guides a catheter to the renal arteries using advanced imaging. Radiofrequency or ultrasound energy is delivered through the catheter to disrupt the nerves surrounding the arteries, reducing their contribution to elevated blood pressure. The procedure typically takes less than an hour, and patients return home the same day.

 “There is very little recovery involved,” said Dr. Case. “Most patients experience only minor soreness at the access site and can return to normal activities quickly.”

Clinical studies have shown renal denervation can lower systolic blood pressure by an average of ~ 10 mm Hg or more over two to three months. Some patients may be able to reduce the number or dosage of medications they take as their blood pressure improves.

Patients who may benefit from renal denervation include those who:

• Have resistant hypertension despite taking three or more medications
• Experience side effects from blood pressure medications
• Have difficulty taking medications consistently
• Have been diagnosed with high blood pressure as teens or young adults
• Have additional conditions such as obesity or Type 2 Diabetes

“Even modest reductions in blood pressure can significantly reduce the risk of future cardiovascular events,” said Allen J. Taylor, MD, FACC, chairman of Cardiology at MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute. “This procedure gives us another valuable tool to help patients achieve better long-term heart health.”

Renal denervation is intended to complement, not replace, medications and heart-healthy lifestyle habits such as regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and limiting sodium intake.

For more information about renal denervation and treatment options for high blood pressure, visit MedStar Health High Blood Pressure Services.