Protocolo diagnóstico y terapéutico de las crisis hipertensivas en Urgencias

A hypertensive crisis is defined as a sharp rise of more than 180/120 mmHg blood pressure that can result in organ damage (in this case they are called hypertensive emergencies, otherwise hypertensive urgencies). Hypertensive emergencies have a poor prognosis without treatment, so the most important thing after checking the blood pressure is for symptoms or signs of kidney damage, cerebral or coronary. In these cases additional tests are necessary as the request box hypertensive emergency to which we are. Intravenous treatment will always hospitable. Among the drugs used, include nitroprusside, nitroglycerin, labetalol, urapidil, phentolamine, hydralazine, nicardipine, clevidipino, esmolol and enalaprilat, each has specific indications and contraindications. Hypertensive urgencies not compromise patient's life, are treated with oral drugs, usually they do not require further testing and ambulatory monitoring.