Male with Severe Hypertension and Dyspnea

A 74-year-old man presented to the Emergency Department via ambulance with acute-onset dyspnea while at rest. On arrival the patient was diaphoretic, tachypneic, and in severe respiratory distress, with a blood pressure of 220/125 mm Hg and a heart rate of 130 beats/min. Treatment for presumptive hypertensive emergency with flash pulmonary edema was initiated. Despite continuous positive pressure ventilation and aggressive nitroglycerin dosing, the patient's condition deteriorated and he was intubated.
Source: The Journal of Emergency Medicine - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tags: Visual Diagnosis in Emergency Medicine Source Type: research