• Roshan Mathew, Akshay Kumar, Ankit Sahu, Sachin Wali, and Praveen Aggarwal.
• Department of Emergency Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), New Delhi, India.
• J Emerg Med. 2021 Sep 1; 61 (3): 271-277.

BackgroundSympathetic crashing acute pulmonary edema (SCAPE) is a severe form of hypertensive acute heart failure with a dramatic presentation. Rapid identification and management in the emergency department (ED) is key to saving these patients and preventing morbidity associated with endotracheal intubation and intensive care treatment. Use of high-dose nitroglycerin (NTG) and noninvasive ventilation (NIV) has been advocated in management of such patients.ObjectiveTo study the feasibility and safety of high-dose NTG combined with NIV in SCAPE.MethodsThis was a prospective observational pilot study done in the ED of a tertiary care hospital. All patients were treated with high-dose NTG and NIV. The primary objective was to study the feasibility and safety of the SCAPE management protocol in terms of the outcome of the patient. Resolution of symptoms in 6 h and need for intubation were recorded as endpoints. Any complications associated with high-dose NTG were also recorded.ResultsA total of 25 patients were recruited. The mean bolus dose of NTG given was 872 μg, and mean cumulative dose, 35 mg. There was no incidence of hypotension after the bolus dose of nitroglycerin. Eleven patients had resolution of symptoms at 3 h of therapy. Twenty-four patients were discharged from the ED itself after a brief period of observation, and one patient was intubated and shifted to the intensive care unit.ConclusionUse of our specific SCAPE treatment algorithm, which included high-dose NTG and NIV, was safe and provided rapid resolution of symptoms.Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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