section name header

Basics

[Section Outline]

Author:

HirenPatel

David F. M.Brown


Description!!navigator!!

Etiology!!navigator!!

Diagnosis

[Section Outline]

Signs and Symptoms!!navigator!!

History

  • Inquire about:
    • Use of any prescribed and OTC medication
    • Duration and control of pre-existing HTN:
      • Prior end-organ damage
    • Details of antihypertensive therapy
    • Comorbid conditions (obesity, CAD, DM)
    • Recreational drug use
  • Assess for end-organ compromise in decreasing order of frequency:
    • Dyspnea
    • Chest pain
    • Headache
    • Altered mental status/confusion
    • Focal neurologic symptoms

Physical Exam

  • BP measured in both arms
    • Use proper cuff size
  • Assess for end-organ compromise:
    • Neurologic:
      • Level of consciousness
      • Visual fields
      • Focal motor/sensory deficits
    • Ophthalmologic:
      • Funduscopic exam (retinal hemorrhages, papilledema)
    • Cardiovascular:
      • Elevated JVP
      • Lung crackles
      • Aortic insufficiency murmur
      • S3
      • Asymmetrical pulses

Essential Workup!!navigator!!

Diagnostic Tests & Interpretation!!navigator!!

Lab

  • CBC:
    • Anemia and thrombocytopenia are present in thrombotic microangiopathy
  • Stand ard hospital protocols for chest pain
  • BUN, creatinine
  • Electrolytes:
    • Hypokalemia present in primary mineralocorticoid excess
  • Urinalysis:
    • Proteinuria, hematuria, and casts
  • Urine toxicology screen:
    • If recreational drugs are suspected
  • HCG

Imaging

  • CXR:
    • If cardiopulmonary symptoms are present
  • Head CT:
    • If headache, confusion, neurologic findings
  • CTA chest and abdomen:
    • If concern for aortic dissection

Diagnostic Procedures/Surgery

  • Arterial line
  • Lumbar puncture:
    • Exclude subarachnoid hemorrhage

Differential Diagnosis!!navigator!!

Treatment

[Section Outline]

Prehospital!!navigator!!

Initial Stabilization/Therapy!!navigator!!

ED Treatment/Procedures!!navigator!!

Pregnancy Prophylaxis
  • Preeclampsia:
    • Definition: SBP >140 or DBP >90 mm Hg with proteinuria (>300 mg/24 hr or a urine protein/creatinine >0.3 or dipstick 1+)
    • Occurs >20 wk gestation - 4 wk postpartum
    • Headache, vision changes, peripheral edema, RUQ pain
    • Complications: Eclampsia, HELLP
    • Goal: SBP 130-150 mm Hg and DBP 80-100 mm Hg
    • Drug of choice: Labetalol, nicardipine, hydralazine, magnesium
    • Consult obstetrics
  • Esmolol:
    • β1-blockade
    • Onset 60s, duration 10-20 min
    • Avoid in AHF, COPD, heart block
  • Labetalol:
    • Combined α- and β-blocker
    • Onset 2-5 min, duration 2-6 hr
    • No reflex tachycardia due to β-blockade
    • Avoid in: COPD, AHF, bradycardia
  • Clevidipine:
    • Third-generation dihydropyridine CCB
    • Onset 2-4 min, duration 5-15 min
    • Elimination independent of liver/renal function
    • Avoid in allergies to soy or egg products, defective lipid metabolism, AFib
  • Nicardipine:
    • Second generation dihydropyridine CCB
    • Onset 5-15 min, duration 4-6 hr
    • Avoid in: AHF, coronary ischemia
  • Nitroglycerin:
    • Venous > arteriolar dilation
    • Onset 2-5 min, duration 10-20 min
    • Perfuses coronaries, decreasing ischemia
    • Causes reflex tachycardia, tachyphylaxis, methemoglobinemia
  • Nitroprusside:
    • Short-acting arterial and venous dilator
    • Onset 3 s, duration 1-2 min
    • Complications:
      • Reflex tachycardia, “coronary steal,” increase ICP
      • Cyanide toxicity after prolonged use
    • Avoid in pregnancy, renal failure (relative)
  • Hydralazine:
    • Arteriolar dilator
    • Onset 5-15 min, duration 3-10 hr
    • Hypotensive effect may be less predictable
    • Safe in pregnancy
  • Enalaprilat:
    • ACE inhibitor
    • Onset 0.5-4 hr, duration 6 hr
    • Avoid in: Pregnancy, AMI
  • Fenoldopam:
    • Selective postsynaptic dopaminergic receptor agonist (DA1)
    • Onset 5-15 min, duration 1-4 hr
    • No reflex tachycardia
    • Maintains renal perfusion
    • Avoid in: Glaucoma
  • Phentolamine:
    • α1-blocker, peripheral vasodilator
    • Onset 1-2 min, duration 10-30 min

Medication!!navigator!!

Follow-Up

[Section Outline]

Disposition!!navigator!!

Admission Criteria

  • All patients with end-organ damage
  • ICU for cardiac and BP monitoring

Discharge Criteria

  • Absence of end-organ damage
  • Likely to be compliant with primary care
  • Known history of HTN
  • Reversible precipitating cause (e.g., medication noncompliance)
  • Able to resume previous medication regimen
  • Return with chest pain or headache

Follow-up Recommendations!!navigator!!

Initiation of a suitable medication regimen under care of a primary care provider

Pearls and Pitfalls

  • Avoid IV agents for hypertensive urgency
  • BP goal in hypertensive emergency is a reduction of the MAP by 20-25% within the first hour except in ischemic CVA and aortic dissection
  • Avoid excessive or precipitous decrease in BP because it may exacerbate end-organ damage
  • Avoid reflex tachycardia in aortic dissection
  • Avoid unopposed α in catecholamine excess

Additional Reading

See Also (Topic, Algorithm, Electronic Media Element)

The authors gratefully acknowledge Eva Tovar Hirashima for his contribution to the previous edition of this chapter.

Codes

ICD9

ICD10

SNOMED