The hypertensive surgical patient. Controversies in management.

The authors use data gathered from recent clinical and laboratory studies to deal with the following six questions often facing the physician caring for hypertensive patients before, during, and after surgery. Which hypertensive patient is at increased surgical risk? When must elective surgery be delayed? Should antihypertensive medication be discontinued preoperatively? What is the ideal intraoperative blood pressure? What anesthetic techniques are best suited for hypertensive patients? Which patients are at most risk of a postoperative hypertensive crisis?