Hypertensive crisis
Topic: Medical-surgical
A severe rise in blood pressure, usually above 180/120 mmHg. It is a hypertensive emergency when there is acute target-organ damage, such as encephalopathy, stroke, acute coronary syndrome, pulmonary edema, aortic dissection or acute kidney injury, and a hypertensive urgency when there is not. An emergency needs IV drugs and continuous monitoring in intensive care; because the fall must be controlled, mean arterial pressure is usually lowered by about 20–25% at first (faster and further in aortic dissection). Monitor headache, vision, chest pain and neurological status.
- Also known as:
- Hypertensive emergency, Hypertensive urgency
- In Turkish:
- Hipertansif kriz
What does Hypertensive crisis mean?
Hypertensive crisis is part of the Medical-surgical topic in nursing. Students meet it in class, on clinical placements and while preparing for exams.
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