Renal denervation 'improves outcomes' of advanced heart failure patients

Patients with advanced heart failure may experience a better outcome through renal denervation than through common drugs.

This is the finding of a new study at the University Hospital Olomouc in Germany, which claims that the procedure is more effective than traditional approaches.

Renal denervation applies radiofrequency energy to the femoral artery using a thin catheter and a long-term loss of nerve supply - or 'denervation' as it is medically known - to nerves around the renal arteries. This stops substances being excreted that lead to heart failure.

The efficacy of this treatment was measured by Dr Miloš Táborský and his team by comparing the outcomes of 26 renal denervation patients against 25 people with advanced heart failure given traditional drugs.

After a year it was observed that function on the left side of the heart was significantly improved in those given renal denervation.

The findings add to a growing body of evidence showing the ability of renal denervation to reduce heart failure risk factors, including blood pressure.

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