Houseman BS, Martinelli AN, Oliver WD, Devabhakthuni S, Mattu A. 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;63:74-78.
PMID: 36327753
BACKGROUND
- Sympathetic crashing acute pulmonary edema (SCAPE) is caused when severe, acute elevation in blood pressure results in acute heart failure and fluid accumulation in the lungs. In addition to non-invasive positive pressure ventilation, high-dose nitroglycerin (HDN) has become a mainstay of treatment, however an optimal dosing strategy has not been established
STUDY OBJECTIVE
- To describe the characteristics and outcomes of patients who received an infusion of HDN for the management of SCAPE
STUDY DESIGN
- Retrospective chart review at an adult ED within a large, tertiary care academic medical center
Study Intervention & Comparison
- HDN infusion (rate ≥100 mcg/min within the first hour)
Results
- Dosing
- Median initial rate: 100mcg/min, median peak rate: 200mcg/min
- 48% received initial bolus (63% oral, 38% IV)
- Efficacy
- Median SBP decrease 32% from HDN alone
- Median SBP decrease 37% from HDN + loop diuretic
- Safety
- 31% of patients experienced an unfavorable outcome (intubation (21%), hypotension (4%), or AKI (13%))
- Baseline SaO2 significantly lower in those with an unfavorable outcome (94% vs 98% p=0.004)
Summary
- Although optimal initial rates and titration strategies remain unknown, high dose nitroglycerin may be a safe alternative strategy to the use of intermittent bolus nitroglycerin in patients with SCAPE.
Additional Readings
- Paone S, Clarkson L, Sin B, Punnapuzha S. Recognition of sympathetic crashing acute pulmonary edema (SCAPE) and use of high-dose nitroglycerin infusion. Am J Emerg Med. 2018;36(8):1526.e5–7.
- Stemple K, Dewitt KM, Porter BA, Sheeser M, Blohm E, Bisanzo M. High-dose nitro- glycerin infusion for the management of sympathetic crashing acute pulmonary edema (SCAPE): A case series. Am J Emerg Med. 2020 Jun;44:262–6.