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Definitions
Hypertensive Emergency
- BP > 180/120 mmHg PLUS
- Acute end-organ damage:
- Hypertensive encephalopathy
- Acute ischemic stroke (AIS)
- Hemorrhagic stroke
- Acute MI / unstable angina
- Acute pulmonary edema (HFrEF or HFpEF)
- Aortic dissection
- Acute kidney injury
- Eclampsia / severe preeclampsia
- Hypertensive retinopathy (grade III/IV â hemorrhages, exudates, papilledema)
- Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA)
- Management: ICU, IV agents, goal-directed reduction
Hypertensive Urgency
- BP > 180/120 mmHg WITHOUT acute end-organ damage
- Asymptomatic or mild headache, anxiety
- Management: oral agents, gradual reduction over 24-48h, outpatient F/U
âMalignant HTNâ (Older Term)
- Severe HTN with retinal hemorrhages, exudates, papilledema (KWB grade III/IV)
- Often with MAHA, AKI
- Subset of emergency
Epidemiology
- 1-2% of HTN patients yearly have a hypertensive crisis
- ~ 25% are emergencies
- Higher in African Americans, low SES, non-adherent
- Common precipitants: medication non-adherence, drug-induced (cocaine, amphetamines), secondary HTN, AKI
Pathophysiology
Pressure-Natriuresis Curve Shift
- Chronically HTN patients shift autoregulation curve
- Acute fall in BP risks hypoperfusion of brain/heart/kidney
- Hence âgradual reductionâ
Endothelial Injury
- BP > critical threshold â endothelial damage â microvascular leak, platelet activation, fibrin deposition
- MAHA can develop
- Cerebral edema, papilledema
RAAS Surge
- Renal ischemia â renin â Ang II surge â further BP elevation
- Vicious cycle
Clinical Assessment
History
- Duration, severity of HTN
- Adherence to medications
- Drug use (cocaine, amphetamines, MAOIs, sympathomimetics)
- Symptoms suggesting end-organ damage:
- Neurologic: HA, confusion, vision change, seizure, focal weakness
- Cardiac: chest pain, dyspnea, orthopnea
- Renal: anuria, hematuria, flank pain
- Vascular: tearing chest/back pain (dissection)
- Pregnancy
Physical
- BP in BOTH arms (dissection!)
- Heart rate, rhythm
- Cardiac auscultation (S3, S4, murmurs, friction rub)
- Lung auscultation (rales, wheezing)
- Neurologic exam
- Fundoscopy (papilledema, hemorrhages, exudates, AV nicking)
- Abdominal exam (bruits, pulsatile mass)
- Femoral pulses
Investigations
- Labs: CBC, BMP/eGFR, troponin, BNP, UA, urine drug screen, peripheral smear (MAHA)
- ECG: ischemia, LVH, arrhythmia
- CXR: pulmonary edema, widened mediastinum
- Echo: LVH, LV function, dissection (TEE)
- CT angio: aorta, head (stroke), pulmonary
- MRI: hypertensive encephalopathy (PRES â posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome)
IV Agents for Emergency
Labetalol
- α/β-blocker
- IV bolus 10-20 mg, then 20-80 mg every 10 min OR infusion 1-2 mg/min
- First-line for most: stroke, encephalopathy, pregnancy, post-cardiac surgery
- Avoid: HF, severe asthma, bradycardia
Nicardipine
- DHP CCB
- Infusion 5-15 mg/h
- Good for: encephalopathy, stroke (esp ICH), aortic dissection (with β-blocker)
- Side effects: reflex tachycardia, headache
Clevidipine
- DHP CCB, ultra-short-acting
- Infusion 1-32 mg/h
- Good for: cardiac surgery, rapid titration
- Lipid emulsion (concern in pancreatitis, egg/soy allergy)
Nitroprusside
- Direct NO donor (arterial + venous)
- Infusion 0.25-10 ÎŒg/kg/min
- Fast on/off
- Use cautiously: cyanide toxicity (avoid > 3 ÎŒg/kg/min, AKI, prolonged use)
- Good for: acute HF + emergency
- Avoid in: AIS, pregnancy
Nitroglycerin
- Venous > arterial vasodilator
- 5-200 ÎŒg/min
- Good for: acute coronary syndrome, pulmonary edema, RV dysfunction (cautious)
- Less for HTN alone
Esmolol
- β1-selective, ultra-short-acting
- 500 ÎŒg/kg bolus, then 50-300 ÎŒg/kg/min
- Excellent for: aortic dissection (HR control), post-op, tachyarrhythmia + HTN
- Easy titration
Enalaprilat
- IV ACEi
- 1.25-5 mg every 6h
- HF emergency
- Avoid in pregnancy, bilateral RAS
Hydralazine
- Direct vasodilator
- 10-20 mg IV every 4-6h
- Pregnancy, eclampsia
- Less predictable; reflex tachy
Fenoldopam
- Dopamine D1 agonist
- 0.1-0.6 ÎŒg/kg/min
- Renal vasodilation; good for AKI + HTN
- Avoid in glaucoma
Treatment Targets by Condition
Hypertensive Encephalopathy / PRES
- â MAP 25% in 1 hour
- Then 160/100 in next 23 hours
- IV labetalol or nicardipine
Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS)
- Permissive HTN †220/120 if NOT receiving thrombolysis
- < 185/110 before, < 180/105 after thrombolysis or thrombectomy
- IV labetalol or nicardipine
- Hold home meds initially
Acute Hemorrhagic Stroke (ICH)
- Target SBP < 140 within 1-6 hours (INTERACT-2, ATACH-II)
- IV nicardipine preferred
- Avoid drops > 90 mmHg from baseline
Acute MI / Unstable Angina
- Goal < 140 / 90 within hours
- IV NTG + β-blocker (esmolol or metoprolol)
- Avoid hydralazine (reflex tachy â ischemia)
Acute Pulmonary Edema
- IV NTG (preload reduction)
- IV loop diuretic
- ACEi (consider enalaprilat)
- Avoid β-blocker in active failure (use carvedilol later when stable)
Aortic Dissection
- SBP < 120 + HR < 60 in 10 min
- IV esmolol first (HR control) â then add vasodilator (nicardipine or nitroprusside)
- Avoid pure vasodilator alone (reflex tachy worsens dissection)
- Type A (ascending): EMERGENCY surgery
- Type B (descending): medical management ± TEVAR
Eclampsia / Severe Preeclampsia
- SBP < 160, DBP < 110 within minutes
- IV labetalol OR IV hydralazine OR oral nifedipine
- Magnesium sulfate for seizure prophylaxis (4-6 g IV load, 1-2 g/h)
- Definitive: delivery
Pheochromocytoma Crisis
- Phentolamine IV (α-blocker)
- Nicardipine, nitroprusside
- AVOID β-blocker alone (unopposed α)
- Add β after α-blockade
Cocaine / Sympathomimetic HTN
- IV benzodiazepine first
- Nicardipine, nitroglycerin
- AVOID pure β-blocker (unopposed α)
- Phentolamine OK
Hypertensive Urgency
Definition
- BP > 180/120 WITHOUT acute end-organ damage
- Often asymptomatic / mild HA
Management
- Oral agents, GRADUAL reduction over 24-48h
- Restart home meds + add one
- Options:
- Captopril 25 mg PO (short half-life)
- Labetalol 200-400 mg PO
- Clonidine 0.1-0.2 mg PO (rebound risk)
- Amlodipine 5-10 mg
- AVOID rapid drop (can cause stroke, MI, AKI)
- Watch over 4-6 hours; discharge if BP improves
- Outpatient F/U 1-7 days
- Identify precipitating factor
Avoid: Old Practice
- Sublingual nifedipine = NO (unpredictable, harmful)
- IV agents not needed if no end-organ damage
Hypertensive Retinopathy (Keith-Wagener-Barker)
- Grade I: arteriolar narrowing, copper wiring (asymptomatic)
- Grade II: AV nicking, silver wiring (asymptomatic)
- Grade III: hemorrhages, exudates, cotton wool spots (suggests acute injury)
- Grade IV: papilledema (malignant HTN)
Significance
- III + IV = emergency
- Reversible with BP control
Special Situations
MAHA + AKI in HTN
- Thrombotic microangiopathy from severe HTN
- Schistocytes on peripheral smear
- â haptoglobin, â LDH, â retics
- Need to rule out TTP/HUS (ADAMTS13)
- Treat BP urgently
Post-Op HTN
- Surgical pain, fluid shifts, withdrawal of home meds
- IV clevidipine or nicardipine
- Restart oral meds
Withdrawal HTN
- Clonidine withdrawal (rebound)
- β-blocker withdrawal
- Use clonidine patch or restart agent
𩺠åºé鿥
- Emergency = BP > 180/120 + end-organ damage â ICU + IV
- Urgency = BP > 180/120 NO end-organ damage â oral, F/U
- First hour target: SBP â 25% (except dissection â < 120 in 10 min; ICH â < 140 in 6h)
- Aortic dissection: esmolol FIRST (HR), then nicardipine
- Eclampsia: labetalol/hydralazine/nifedipine + magnesium
- AIS: permissive HTN †220/120 (or < 185/110 before lysis)
- NO sublingual nifedipine for urgency