NMMC Debuts Groundbreaking Procedure to Treat High Blood Pressure
TUPELO, Mississippi—On Monday, North Mississippi Medical Center made headlines by becoming one of the first hospitals in the nation to perform a new procedure to treat high blood pressure.
Developed by Medtronic, the Symplicity™ Spyral procedure delivers radiofrequency energy to nerves near the kidneys that can become overactive and contribute to high blood pressure. Dr. Barry Bertolet of Cardiology Associates of North Mississippi, who performed the first procedure, says the new procedure offers hope for people when lifestyle changes and medications alone fail to adequately their control blood pressure.
“Medications for blood pressure don’t always work or they may cause undesirable side effects. Some people require several medications to control their blood pressure but don’t take them all because the combination makes them feel bad,” Dr. Bertolet said. “This technology now allows us to control blood pressure with less medication.”
Dr. Bertolet was among a small group of cardiologists nationwide involved in clinical trials for the Symplicity™ Spyral procedure and performed about 20 cases at NMMC since the study began in 2021. Dr. Bertolet’s involvement in the clinical trials is the reason NMMC was granted early access to the technology once it received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Nov. 20.
Dr. Bertolet, along with a local patient who had the procedure during clinical trial, testified to the FDA about its benefits.
The procedure works like this: after the patient is sedated, the doctor inserts a single thin tube (known as a catheter) into the artery leading to the kidney. The doctor then administers energy to calm the excessive activity of the nerves connected to the kidney. The tube is removed, leaving no implant behind. Best of all, the procedure takes less than an hour, and the patient can go home the same day.
Cardiologists Dr. Benjamin Blossom and Dr. Jonathan Blossom will also be performing the procedure at NMMC.
“This technology has been available in Europe for a long time, and there’s an excellent track record for safety and effectiveness,” Dr. Bertolet said. “They have followed patients for several years—their blood pressure comes down and it stays down with less medication.”
Because of its significance, Medtronic executives and one of the engineers who developed the technology were among those at NMMC for the first case.
“I was thrilled to represent Medtronic this week at North Mississippi Medical Center with Dr. Barry Bertolet's first RDN case,” said Jason Fontana, vice president of marketing and strategy for the Medtronic Coronary and Renal Denervation business. “Partnering with physicians to make a tangible difference in a community that is close to my heart is incredibly rewarding, and I look forward to potentially helping even more patients in the area with this technology.”
Dr. Bertolet says the procedure is currently performed through the patient’s femoral (leg) artery; however, he anticipates that radial artery access (through the patient’s wrist) will be an option in the future.
High blood pressure affects about half of all adults in the United States and is the leading modifiable cause of heart attack, stroke and death. Dr. Bertolet says 80% of people who know they have high blood pressure don't have it under control.
For more information about the new procedure, call Cardiology Associates of North Mississippi at (662) 620-6800 or 1-800-THE DESK (1-800-843-3375).
