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Hypertensive Crisis/Epinephrine Reaction

Hypertensive urgency is defined as SBP >180 mm Hg and/or DBP >110 mm Hg; these signs may be accompanied by headache, anxiety, shortness of breath (SOB) and epistaxis (nosebleed), and requires urgent evaluation.

Signs and symptoms#

  • sustained and/or significant elevation in blood pressure (SBP >250 mm Hg and/or DBP >130 mm Hg)
  • severe headache
  • confusion
  • blurred vision
  • chest pain
  • anxiety
  • shortness of breath
  • nausea and vomiting
  • swelling or edema
  • seizures
  • unresponsiveness

Action#

Causes#

  • inadequate pain control
  • excess total volume of epinephrine containing local anesthetic
  • inadvertent intravascular injection of epinephrine containing local anesthetic

Related Pages#

References/Websites#