Hypertensive emergencies require rapid blood pressure reduction to prevent target organ damage, while hypertensive urgencies only require gradual reduction over 24 hours without end organ involvement. The case study describes a patient presenting with acute pulmonary edema secondary to hypertensive emergency and acute kidney injury. He was intubated and given intravenous nitrates, frusemide and morphine to rapidly reduce blood pressure and relieve pulmonary congestion over several hours.
4. Definition..
Hypertension is defined as persistent elevation of
systolic BP of ≥ 140mmHg and/or diastolic BP of ≥ 90
mmHg
CPG Management of hypertension. 4th ed.
2013
5. Definition..
Severe hypertension is defined as persistent
elevated SBP >180 mmHg and/or DBP >110 mmHg
Further classified into:
(a) Asymptomatic
(b) hypertensive urgencies
(c) hypertensive emergencies
CPG Management of hypertension. 4th ed.
2013
Hypertensive crisis
6. Hypertensive Emergency..
Persistent elevated SBP >180 mmHg and/or DBP
>110 mmHg with target organ damage/complication
It is the target organ dysfunction rather than the
absolute blood pressure level pre se
Situations that require immediate blood pressure
reduction to prevent or limit target organ damage
CPG Management of hypertension. 4th ed.
2013
Shirley O. & Peter M. Emergency Medicine. 2nd ed.
2015
Sixth Report of the JNC on Prevention, Detection,
Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure.
1997
7. The rate of rise of the of the blood pressure
is more important
rather than the absolute level of BP itself
8. Hypertensive Urgency..
Persistent elevated SBP >180 mmHg and/or DBP
>110 mmHg with no overt acute target organ
damage/complication
Clinical scenarios with markedly elevated blood
pressure without obvious end-organ dysfunction
CPG Management of hypertension. 4th ed.
2013
Shirley O. & Peter M. Emergency Medicine. 2nd ed.
2015
11. Clinical presentation..
1. Incidental finding
2. Non-specific symptoms like headache, dizziness,
lethargy
3. Symptoms and signs of acute target organ
damage.
Eg. acute heart failure, acute coronary syndromes, acute
renal failure, dissecting aneurysm, subarachnoid
haemorrhage and hypertensive encephalopathy.
12. Approach in ED…
Is the BP reading correct?
Repeat using manual sphygmomanometer
Correct cuff size
Check the other arm
Recheck about 1 hour later
Thorough history
Compliancy to medication
13.
14. Approach in ED…
Is it a hypertensive emergency?
Look for evidence of end organ damage
Neurological examination : altered mental status,
neurological deficit
Fundoscopy : papilloedema, haemorrage
CVS : APO, Aortic dissection
16. Approach in ED…
Lab investigation
FBC
RP
Urine FEME
LFP/ Coag
CE/ trop T
17. Approach in ED…
Radiological ix
CXR
CT scan (altered mental status)
18. Management
ABC
All patient with hypertensive emergency should be
managed in RED ZONE
Hypertensive urgency may be managed in the
YELLOW ZONE
Aim: to control BP without compromising circulation
to the end organs
19. Hypertensive urgency
Initial treatment should aim for about 25% reduction
in BP over 24 hours but not lower than 160/90
mmHg.
Oral drugs are proven to be effective.
There is no role for intravenous BP lowering drugs.
Combination therapy is necessary.
21. Hypertensive Emergency
The BP needs to be reduced rapidly.
It is suggested that the BP be reduced by 25%
depending on clinical scenario over 3 to 12 hours but
not lower than 160/90 mmHg.
This is best achieved with parenteral drugs.
22. Hypertensive Emergency
The specific management will depend on the end-
organ systems that affected by the BP
Aortic Dissection
Rapidly reduce SBP to 100-120 mmHg within 5-10
minutes
Beta blocker, IV morphine
Acute ischaemic stroke
Anti-HPT is not routinely indicated
SBP > 220mmHg or DBP >120mmHg
23. Hypertensive Emergency
Pre – clampsia
MgSO4
hydralazine, labetolol, methyldopa
Acute left ventricular failure/ APO
IV GTN
24. Case Study..
44 y/o Indonesian gentleman
Non-smoker
Underlying: HPT
– not on proper follow/up
– not on any medication
Presented with:
1) SOB x 3/7
worsening today
2) cough x 3/7
yellowish sputum
3) fever x 3/7
low grade fever
on and off
Otherwise:
no PND/ orthopnea / lower limbs swelling
no chest pain
28. Diagnosis
1) APO secondary to HPT emergency
2) Cover for CAP (curb 3)
3) Severe metabolic acidosis secondary to acute on
CKD (newly diagnosed)
29. Management
Decided for intubation due to impending
respiratory collapse
While intubated noted frothy sputum
30. Management
IVI GTN 5mcg/min
IV frusemide 40mg stat
Subsequently, Bp 220/135
IVI GTN increase to 15mcg/ min
Admit medical ward
31. APO management – Management of heart failure CPG
1) Oxygen – aim of achieving spo2 > 95%.
Elective ventilation using non invasive positive
pressure ventilation (CPAP or BiPAP) should be
considered early.
Should the oxygen saturation be inadequate or the
patient develop respiratory muscle fatigue, then
intubation is necessary.
32. 2) Nitrates - are indicated as first line therapy.
Reduce preload and afterload
Sublingually or intravenously. The i.v. route is more
effective and preferable.
Studies have shown that the combination of i.v. nitrate
and low dose frusemide is more efficacious than high
dose diuretic treatment alone.
34. 3) Frusemide – Intravenous (i.v.) frusemide 40 –
100mg.
Administration of a loading dose followed by a
continuous infusion.
The dose should be titrated according to clinical
response and renal function.
35. 4) Morphine – i.v. 3 – 5 mg bolus (repeated if
necessary, up to a total maximum of 10mg).
It reduces pulmonary venous congestion and
sympathetic drive. It is most useful in patients who
are dyspnoeic and restless.
36.
37. Take home message…
Do not reduce BP rapidly in asymptomatic severe
hypertension.
Treat hypertensive urgencies with combination oral
therapy targeting BP to reduce by around 25% within
24 hours.
Treat hypertensive emergencies with intravenous
drugs targeting BP to reduce by around 25% within 3
to 12 hours.
38. References…
CPG Management of hypertension. 4th ed. 2013
Shirley O. & Peter M. Emergency Medicine. 2nd
ed. 2015
CPG Management of heart failure. 2nd ed. 2007