Hypertensive urgencies and emergencies

Abstract

Introduction - The Urgency and Hypertensive Emergency are clinical occurrences that may represent more than 25% of the medical urgency treatments, due to the fact that the doctor must be able to tell them apart, once that prognosis and treatment are distinct. Methods - The articles referring to the term “Hypertensive crisis” were researched at the www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ PUBMED Website, where 19 publications have been closen and will thus be analysed in this review. Results - The Hypertensive Emergency results in the sudden elevation of the arterial pressure with symptoms that suggest target-organ lesions,making hospital commitment necessary, in an intensive theraphy facility and Sodium Nitroprussiatum treatment and /or Urapidil. In the hypertensive urgency, the arterial pressure elevation occurs, with no signals and targetorgan damage symptoms, thus being possible of ambulatorial treatment with oral medication. Discussions on diagnosis, physiopathology and, above all, appropriate treatment are presented. Conclusions - Hypertensive Urgency is characterized by the pressure elevation without symptoms and/or target-organ damage, making necessary the arterial pressure reduction up to 24 hours. The Hypertensive Emergency means a significant pressure elevation with symptoms and risk of dead, what brings the need of treatment and immediate pressure reduction.