[Preoperative assessment of surgical patients with hypertension arterialis].

Almost one out of four patients referred for non cardiac surgery presents preoperatively with hypertensio arterialis (HA). The risk of perioperative cardiovascular complication increases with the grade of HA and the coexistence of end organ damage. This paper is a review of the current knowledge of HA and anaesthesia. It is recommended that patients with grade I and II HA proceed for surgery. But the evidence for patients with grade III HA is less clear. Patients without end organ damage can proceed for surgery, while patients with end organ damage should be stabilized before surgery.