Abstract
Hyper- and hypotensive emergencies represent some of the most severe clinical issues
that can occur during or around an interventional radiology procedure. While some
patients are known to be more predisposed to cardiovascular collapse, nearly all patients
are at risk for such an outcome. This is particularly true of patients undergoing
moderate sedation, with the possibility of cardiovascular compromise occurring not
just due to the underlying pathology for which the patient is being treated, but as
a complication of sedation itself. Understanding the underlying cause of hyper- or
hypotension is paramount to performing an appropriate and timely intervention. While
the underlying cause is being corrected—if possible—the changes in blood pressure
themselves may need to be intervened upon to maintain cardiovascular stability in
these patients. Interventional radiologists must be familiar with measures taken to
correct hyper- or hypotensive emergencies, including the most commonly used medications
to treat these disorders. This article discusses the most common etiologies of such
clinical scenarios, and the most common interventions performed for these settings.
Keywords
interventional radiology - pharmacology - complications - cardiovascular - blood pressure
