MTRH performs Kenya’s first renal artery bypass surgery
Renovascular hypertension occurs when blocked renal arteries reduce kidney blood flow, prompting the organs to raise blood pressure.
Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) successfully carried out Kenya’s first renal artery bypass surgery June 24, 2025.
By James Gitaka
Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) successfully carried out Kenya’s first renal artery bypass surgery June 24, 2025, marking a significant milestone in the country’s healthcare history.
A 20‑year‑old woman diagnosed with renovascular hypertension caused by severe arterial narrowing underwent the intricate operation performed by MTRH’s cardiothoracic and vascular surgery team led by Dr. Stephen Takow. June 24, 2025.
Renovascular hypertension occurs when blocked renal arteries reduce kidney blood flow, prompting the organs to raise blood pressure. While first-line treatments include angioplasty and stenting, the patient’s condition was too complex for those methods, necessitating open bypass surgery.
The procedure involved grafting either a native blood vessel or a synthetic graft to reroute circulation around the obstructed artery, restoring normal renal perfusion.
Hospital CEO Dr. Philip Kirwa praised the operation as “groundbreaking,” adding, “The surgery went in very well. It was successful and she is recuperating well and has been discharged.”
This achievement underscores MTRH’s growing reputation for specialized surgical care. The hospital recently advanced capabilities by conducting its first minimally invasive cardiac procedures and emergency aortic surgery.
Renovascular hypertension, while rare—accounting for under 1% of hypertension cases in the general population—requires precise diagnosis using imaging modalities like duplex ultrasound and CT or MR angiography. When less invasive interventions fail, surgical revascularization such as bypass is life‑saving.
The successful bypass deepens MTRH’s commitment to advancing complex vascular and cardiovascular surgeries regionally and sets a benchmark for innovation in East African healthcare.
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