CaRi-heart technology
Revolutionary new technology to assess the risk of a serious heart condition or heart attack – many years before anything happens.
Renal denervation
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RENAL DENERVATION AT HCA UK
Why choose us?
With us, you’re in safe hands. We treat more than 36,000 cardiac patients every year and our highly experienced cardiac teams are drawn from a pool of over 235 consultants, supported by multidisciplinary teams of clinical nurse specialists, level 3 ITU nurses, radiographers, psychologists and interventional cardiology experts.
Your dedicated care team will work together to undertake this specialist procedure, using the latest state-of-the-art renal denervation systems to make sure you’re getting the most effective treatment for your high blood pressure challenges. You’ll be looked after by some of the very best cardiac experts in the UK - it’s why over 99% of our patients would recommend us to family and friends.
Renal denervation is a procedure designed to help you if you have ‘resistant hypertension’. This is when your high blood pressure is difficult to control, despite multiple medications that you may be taking.
Having high blood pressure is a major cause of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease and even death so this procedure is an important, and sometimes lifesaving, intervention for many patients that we see.
Having high blood pressure is a major cause of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease and even death so this procedure is an important, and sometimes lifesaving, intervention for many patients that we see.
Nerve signals from your brain to your kidneys play an important role in regulating your blood pressure. Renal denervation dampens or ‘quietens’ overactive nerve impulses which are setting your high blood pressure and making it difficult to control.
It can help to ‘switch-off’ of those impulses, aiming to lower your blood pressure and reduce the risk of you having a heart attack or stroke over the long term.
It can help to ‘switch-off’ of those impulses, aiming to lower your blood pressure and reduce the risk of you having a heart attack or stroke over the long term.
It’s carried out by an interventional cardiologist, and you’ll usually be given a local anaesthetic. A plastic tube called a catheter will be inserted into your femoral artery, a blood vessel at the top of your leg, then maneuvered into each of your renal arteries. Energy will be delivered down it to quieten your overactive nerve impulses to the kidneys.
You’ll be given pain relief and sedatives if you need them to ensure that you’re as comfortable as possible during the procedure, which takes less than an hour.
You’ll be given pain relief and sedatives if you need them to ensure that you’re as comfortable as possible during the procedure, which takes less than an hour.
Rigorous research trial data shows that renal denervation procedures are safe and effective. The most common risk is bleeding or bruising at the site of the needle insertion to the femoral artery in the leg.
Very rarely, in less than 1% of patients, there may be an injury to the femoral or renal artery which can be treated immediately with a balloon inflation or stent implantation to resolve the problem.
Very rarely, in less than 1% of patients, there may be an injury to the femoral or renal artery which can be treated immediately with a balloon inflation or stent implantation to resolve the problem.
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Renal denervation
What to expect
A dedicated cardiac team will be with you at every stage of this delicate procedure. You’ll be made comfortable, kept informed and given every opportunity to ask any questions. From your initial consultation until you’re recovering at home, we’ll take care of you.
Please get in touch with us anytime if you have questions or concerns.
01
Initial consultation
You’ll see a cardiology consultant for your initial consultation. They’ll talk to you about your personal and family medical history, discuss any medications and previous or ongoing treatment for high blood pressure you’ve had, as renal denervation is rarely a first step. They’ll also give you a thorough physical examination and check your blood pressure readings. They may ask you to wear a blood pressure monitor for 24 hours after you leave the appointment for a more detailed view.
02
Investigations and diagnosis
Renal denervation isn’t suitable for every patient with high blood pressure, so before your cardiac consultant decides to recommend it, they’ll carry out some specific tests to find out if it’s the right treatment for you. Those might include:
- Blood tests to check your kidney function
- Imaging tests such as a CT scan or an MRI to determine the specific condition of your blood vessels
- Screening for other conditions that may be contributing to or causing your blood pressure problems, called ‘secondary causes of hypertension
Once these have been excluded, your consultant may then consider you for a renal denervation procedure. These results together will give your consultant and cardiac team a clearer idea of your suitability and the likelihood of success.
03
The renal denervation procedure
The renal denervation procedure is usually carried out under local anaesthetic by an interventional cardiologist. A tube is inserted into an artery in your groin. A catheter is then placed into that tube and guided by X-ray until it reaches each of your renal arteries in turn. Ultrasound or radiofrequency then generates heat energy that’s delivered to your renal artery.
This can be painful, but we’ll manage your discomfort with painkillers during the procedure, which lasts around an hour. You will need to lie flat for a few hours, and usually you’ll need to stay in hospital for at least 6 hours or overnight after it’s done.
04
After surgery
After your renal denervation, you might feel some pain or nausea, and you’ll need to take things slowly for 48-72 hours and avoid anything strenuous, such as lifting heaving objects.
You’ll be asked to come back to see your cardiology consultant for regular follow-ups to check on your blood pressure and see how well any medications are working. You may also need specific scans of your renal arteries after 12 and 36 months.
Locations
Where can I have renal denervation surgery?
We can carry out your renal denervation at three locations in London and at our flagship location in Birmingham, The Harborne Hospital. They all give you access to the cardiovascular surgical teams that can help you, from initial consultation through to surgery and recovery.
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Wellington Hospital
Wellington Place St John's Wood NW8 9LE London
The Harley Street Clinic
35 Weymouth Street W1G 8BJ London
The Harborne Hospital
Mindelsohn Way B15 2TQ Birmingham
Accessing private health care
Self-pay
You don’t need health insurance to be seen quickly. If you’re looking for a diagnosis or treatment and don’t want to wait, all our private healthcare services – from private GP appointments through to surgery and aftercare – can be paid for as and when you need them.
And to give you peace of mind from the start, we’ll offer you a clear and transparent quote outlining exactly what’s included in your self-pay package.
FAQ
Renal denervation usually follows other treatments intended to lower your blood pressure, such as medication. It’s also a delicate procedure. While it’s minimally invasive and doesn’t require a long hospital stay, there can be side effects. They include a potential narrowing of your kidney arteries, reduced kidney function and bleeding or infection at the access site.
Your cardiac consultant will talk you through all the risks to help you balance them with the potential benefits to decide on the best way forward for you.
Your cardiac consultant will talk you through all the risks to help you balance them with the potential benefits to decide on the best way forward for you.
Renal denervation is a treatment for high blood pressure, so you can help the procedure be as effective as possible by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise and managing your stress levels. It’s also important to attend every follow-up appointment and stay in regular touch with your team at HCA UK.
No. The procedure changes the relationship between your brain and your kidney by slowing the signals they exchange, so you can expect to see a lasting reduction in your blood pressure somewhere between 3-6 months after surgery. Your consultant will also advise on changes to any blood pressure medications you’re taking during this period.
Our patients’ stories
Designing a new heart
Using his experience in 3D printing for his architecture clients, David built a life-size model of his own heart and ribcage to help visualise and plan his endoscopic heart surgery with Mr Toufan Bahrami.
Just two months after undergoing heart surgery at The Harley Street Clinic, David, who is in his 70s, is looking forward to his forthcoming trip to Copenhagen, Stockholm and Gothenburg with his wife.
A simple heart screening revealed Mahmoud’s tumour
At 55, Mahmoud had never felt fitter. The orthodontist from northwest London enjoyed daily exercise classes and a range of sports. It was only when a relative was diagnosed with cardiovascular disease that his wife suggested he arrange a routine heart health check-up.
Graham's story
Graham shares his experience of being diagnosed with prostate cancer, his treatment under the care of Mr Vijay Ramani at The Christie Private Care - part of HCA Healthcare UK, his choice to be treated with robotic surgery and his emotional and physical recovery.
“The staff were incredible. They are the best.”
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This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.