Systemic hypertension associated with coronary artery bypass surgery. Predisposing factors, hemodynamic characteristics, humoral profile, and treatment.

Systemic hypertension occurs in more than one third of patients having coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) operations. This report describes our studies in 100 consecutive patients undergoing CABG. We found that certain preoperative clinical, angiographic, and biochemical factors predispose to the development of perioperative hypertension. These included a well-documented history of hypertension, an elevated blood pressure the day prior to operation, greater than 50 percent obstruction of the left main coronary artery, and increased levels of dopamine beta hydroxylase (DBH). The hemodynamic pattern of perioperative hypertension was that of an increased systemic vascular resistance which was associated with increased levels of plasma catecholamines and plasma renin activity (PRA). Nitroprusside was shown to be effective in managing CABG hypertension, although other, more specific therapy may be preferable.