Perioperative hypertension management

Review

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Authors: Joseph Varon, Paul E Marik

Published Date June 2008 Volume 2008:4(3) Pages 615 - 627

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/VHRM.S2471

Joseph Varon¹, Paul E Marik²

¹The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, and The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital/Texas Heart Institute, Houston, TX, USA; ²Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Abstract: Perioperative hypertension is commonly encountered in patients that undergo surgery. While attempts have been made to standardize the method to characterize the intraoperative hemodynamics, these methods still vary widely. In addition, there is a lack of consensus concerning treatment thresholds and appropriate therapeutic targets, making absolute recommendations about treatment difficult. Nevertheless, perioperative hypertension requires careful management. When treatment is necessary, therapy should be individualized for the patient. This paper reviews the pharmacologic agents and strategies commonly used in the management of perioperative hypertension.

Keywords: hypertension, hypertensive crises, intraoperative, perioperative, postoperative, surgery