WNH Cath Lab Second Critical Access Hospital in U.S. to Treat High Blood Pressure with New Technology

Mar 25, 2025

• Share on Facebook
• Tweet
• Pin it
• Share on LinkedIn

William Newton Hospital and interventional cardiologist Ryan Beard, MD in Winfield, Kansas are pleased to announce the treatment of the first patient with a new renal denervation (RDN) procedure, now offered for certain patients with high blood pressure in the cardiac catheterization lab (cath lab). The hospital is the second critical access hospital in the nation to implement the Symplicity Spyral™ RDN system in its cath lab.

“I am excited to bring this service to William Newton Hospital,” shares Beard. “High blood pressure is so common in our patients and a known risk factor for heart attacks, congestive heart failure, kidney failure, and strokes.”

Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, affects about 50 percent of U.S. adults.¹ Of those adults who are aware of their hypertension, four out of five do not have it under control.² In Cowley County, 72 percent of the Medicare population has been diagnosed with hypertension.³

The Symplicity blood pressure procedure is a minimally invasive, one-time procedure. It is clinically proven to help reduce high blood pressure.^4-6 After moderate sedation, Beard inserts a thin tube into the artery leading to the kidney. He then administers energy to calm the excessive activity of the nerves connected to the kidney. The tube is removed, leaving no implant behind.

“This procedure will allow us to better treat our patients with blood pressure issues that are difficult to manage with traditional blood pressure medications,” says Beard.

Beard explained that medication and/or lifestyle changes can help reduce blood pressure, but studies have shown that many people still don’t have control over their condition. He says the “one-and-done” procedure can provide patients with a “blood pressure reduction benefit that is ‘always on’ and doesn’t require a permanent implant. It can also help patients regain their peace of mind.”

Located within the H. L. Snyder Medical Foundation Surgery Center, the cath lab recorded its highest volumes since its opening in 2020 with 522 procedures in 2024. William Newton Hospital is one of two critical access hospitals in Kansas with a cath lab.

If you or someone you know is experiencing high or difficult-to-control blood pressure, talk to your doctor to see if the Symplicity blood pressure procedure is a possible treatment option.

Learn more about cardiovascular services

More about the science behind the Symplicity Spyral™ renal denervation (RDN) system

1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Control Hypertension. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General; 2020.
2. Facts about Hypertension. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/facts.htm. Accessed August 10, 2023.
3. County Health Rankings Available at: https://www.countyhealthrankings.org
4. Kandzari DE, Böhm M, Mahfoud F, et al. Effect of renal denervation on blood pressure in the presence of antihypertensive drugs: 6-month efficacy and safety results from the SPYRAL HTN-ON MED proof-of-concept randomized trial. The Lancet. 2018 Jun 9;391(10137):2346-2355.
5. Böhm M, Kario K, Kandzari DE, et al. Efficacy of catheter-based renal denervation in the absence of antihypertensive medications (SPYRAL HTN-OFF MED Pivotal): a multicentre, randomized, sham-controlled trial. The Lancet 2020; Published online March 29, 2020. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30554-7.
6. Townsend RR, Mahfoud F, Kandzari DE, et al. Catheter-based renal denervation in patients with uncontrolled hypertension in the absence of antihypertensive medications (SPYRAL HTN-OFF MED): a randomized, sham-controlled, proof-of-concept trial. The Lancet. 2017;390:2160–2170.