Perioperative hypertension.

Increased activity or inadequate inhibition of the autonomic nervous system is often the cause of perioperative hypertension. The goal of treatment is to maintain an adequate balance between myocardial oxygen supply and demand. Newer agents, such as nicardipine and fenoldopam, may offer potential advantages over older agents. The cost:benefit ratio of therapy with these newer agents must also be considered. Despite the fact that perioperative hypertension is aggressively treated, there are no long-term, large-scale study data indicating that this treatment affects long-term patient outcomes.