Lowering blood pressure in suspected stroke

2018-03-06

Bernd W. Böttiger

A patient with suspected stroke transported by the emergency medical services is expected to have high blood pressure. What is the threshold value that warrants the attempts to lower blood pressure by the ambulance crew?

Bernd W. Böttiger: We should be very careful in lowering blood pressure. In the past, in many cases this was done too fast and too much. I would be happy to recommend a blood pressure of 180 or maybe 160/180 mm Hg as systolic blood pressure – but not lower.

See also

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Improving organ donation rates How to improve organ donation rates?
Diagnosis and treatment of stroke and MI by EMS in Germany How is stroke and myocardial infarction diagnosed and treated by the emergency medical services in Germany?
Patients requiring immediate blood pressure lowering Does every patient with a BP >180/100 mm Hg require urgent treatment and hospitalization? What antihypertensive agents should be used in general practice? How to quickly lower BP?

Lowering blood pressure in suspected stroke

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