High-dose nitroglycerin infusion description of safety and efficacy in sympathetic crashing acute pulmonary edema: The HI-DOSE SCAPE study

Brandon S Houseman; Ashley N Martinelli; Wesley D Oliver; Sandeep Devabhakthuni; Amal Mattu

doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2022.10.018

High-dose nitroglycerin infusion description of safety and efficacy in sympathetic crashing acute pulmonary edema: The HI-DOSE SCAPE study

Am J Emerg Med. 2023 Jan:63:74-78. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2022.10.018. Epub 2022 Oct 18.

Authors

Brandon S Houseman¹, Ashley N Martinelli², Wesley D Oliver¹, Sandeep Devabhakthuni³, Amal Mattu⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmacy, The University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, United States of America.
² Department of Pharmacy, The University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, United States of America. Electronic address: Ashley.martinelli@umm.edu.
³ Department of Practice, Sciences, and Health Outcomes Research, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD, United States of America.
⁴ Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America.

PMID: 36327753
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2022.10.018

Abstract

Background: Sympathetic crashing acute pulmonary edema (SCAPE) is a medical emergency in which severe, acute elevation in blood pressure results in acute heart failure and fluid accumulation in the lungs. Without prompt recognition and treatment, the condition often progresses rapidly to respiratory failure necessitating intubation and intensive care unit (ICU) admission. In addition to non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV), high-dose nitroglycerin (HDN) has become a mainstay of treatment; however, an optimal dosing strategy has not been established.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics and outcomes of patients who received an HDN infusion (≥ 100 μg/min) for the management of SCAPE in the Emergency Department (ED) of a large urban academic medical center. Outcomes were also analyzed to determine predictors of safety and efficacy including use of adjunct medication therapies.

Results: There were 67 adult patients who received HDN infusion for SCAPE from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018. The median (IQR) systolic blood pressure (SBP) on initiation of HDN infusion was 211 (192-233) mmHg. Patients were 63% male, 84% black, 51% had a history of heart failure (HF), and 36% had end-stage renal disease (ESRD). IV nitroglycerin (NTG) was initiated at a median (IQR) dose of 100 (100-200) mcg/min with median (IQR) peak rate in the first hour of 200 (127.5-200) mcg/min and an absolute maximum observed rate of 400 μg/min overall. 73% of patients received NIPPV, 48% sublingual (SL) or IV bolus nitroglycerin before HDN infusion, 58% loop diuretic, and 34% angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB). Rates of ICU admission, intubation, acute kidney injury (AKI) at 48 h, and hypotension were 37%, 21%, 13%, and 4% respectively.

Conclusion: This is the largest to date study describing the use of an HDN infusion (≥100 μg/min) strategy for the management of SCAPE. HDN infusion may be a safe alternative strategy to intermittent bolus HDN.

Keywords: Acute decompensated heart failure; High-dose nitroglycerin; Hypertensive emergency; Nitroglycerin; Pulmonary edema; SCAPE.

MeSH terms

Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
Female
Heart Failure* / complications
Heart Failure* / drug therapy
Humans
Male
Pulmonary Edema* / drug therapy
Pulmonary Edema* / etiology

Substances

Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors