Resistant Hypertension

Hypertension continues to be one of the most frequent health conditions in the United States of America. Although many can control their blood pressure with a combination of medications and lifestyle changes there is a subgroup of patients with “resistant hypertension”. This occurs when patients are unable to control their blood pressure despite using 3 different types of blood pressure pills, including a diuretic or water pill.

Researches are investigating non-medication based approaches to control these difficult cases. One novel approach to blood pressure control involves creating a direct connection between a large artery and vein in the leg. This connection is called an arteriovenous anastomosis, and is created in a catherterization lab, without requiring a major surgical procedure.

Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital is about to embark on a research protocol investigating the efficacy and safety of this procedure. Hopefully, this procedure will prove to be an effective tool in combating resistant hypertension.