Bilateral Nephrectomy for Refractory Hypertension in a Patient With ESRD on Intermittent Hemodialysis

In nearly 20 percent of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), hypertension remains poorly controlled despite pharmacological therapy and volume reduction through dialysis. Further, morbidity from hospitalization for hypertensive crisis is significantly higher in patients with ESRD than in patients without ESRD. For those who fail conventional therapies for hypertension, therapeutic bilateral nephrectomy can be considered as a last resort option. With appropriate candidate selection, patients are expected to have improved quality of life. We describe the case of a 37-year-old African American male with ESRD on intermitted hemodialysis who underwent bilateral nephrectomy for the management of hypertension refractory to antihypertensive medications.