Mucocele apendicular benigno / Benign Appendiceal Mucocele

Introducción: El mucocele apendicular se considera una lesión rara del apéndice que se caracteriza por la dilatación de la luz del órgano con acumulación de moco. Este puede ser benigno o maligno. Objetivo: Caracterizar un caso de mucocele apendicular de comportamiento benigno en un paciente adulto masculino. Presentación del caso: Se asiste a un paciente, en estudio de tumor de vías digestivas, que se interviene quirúrgicamente con cuadro peritoneal agudo hallando masa de localización apendicular. Se realiza apendicectomía convencional y se estudia la pieza por anatomía patológica como mucocele apendicular benigno. La evolución del paciente fue satisfactoria. Conclusiones: Se presenta clínicamente de forma inespecífica, lo que posibilita que su diagnóstico sea intraoperatorio con mayor frecuencia. La estrategia quirúrgica depende de los hallazgos intraoperatorios donde la apendicectomía y la hemicolectomía derecha son las técnicas más utilizadas. El pseudomixoma peritoneal es una complicación temida(AU)

Introduction: Appendiceal mucocele is considered a rare lesion of the appendix characterized by dilatation of the organ lumen with mucus accumulation. It can be benign or malignant. Objective: To characterize a case of appendiceal mucocele with benign behavior in an adult male patient. Case presentation: A patient under study of digestive tract tumor is attended. The patient underwent surgery for having acute peritoneal symptoms; a mass of appendicular location was found. Conventional appendicectomy was performed and the piece was studied by pathological anatomy, being a benign appendicular mucocele. The patient's evolution was satisfactory. Conclusions: This condition is presented clinically in a nonspecific manner, which makes for its diagnosis to be more frequently intraoperative. The surgical strategy depends on the intraoperative findings, in which appendectomy and right hemicolectomy are the most used techniques. Pseudomyxoma peritonei is a feared complication(AU)

Torsión esplénica / Splenic Torsion

Introducción: El síndrome de torsión se incluye dentro de los síndromes que causan abdomen agudo quirúrgico. Como causa poco frecuente de este síndrome se encuentra la torsión esplénica en bazos que tienen anomalía en su fijación. Objetivo: Informar sobre la evolución de una paciente tratada por torsión de un bazo errante. Presentación del caso: Paciente de ocho años de edad, femenina, de color no blanco de la piel, con antecedentes de dolor abdominal crónico recurrente, que acudió al Servicio de Urgencias del Hospital Pediátrico de Cienfuegos Paquito González Cueto con dolor abdominal agudo, intermitente, de 48 horas de evolución, vómitos, abdomen doloroso a la palpación profunda en cuadrante superior izquierdo y masa palpable en flanco lateral del mismo lado de tres cm. Se sospechó una torsión esplénica. Se realizó, como complementario diagnóstico ultrasonido abdominal Doppler y tomografía contrastada de abdomen. Se hizo laparotomía y se encontró bazo torcido, con cambios de coloración por la isquemia, que recuperó su color normal después de la destorsión. Se fijó el órgano a la pared abdominal. La evolución posquirúrgica resultó satisfactoria. Conclusiones: La torsión esplénica, aunque infrecuente, debe sospecharse en pacientes con dolor intermitente y masa palpable, principalmente en flanco lateral izquierdo. La tomografía contrastada resulta el examen diagnóstico de elección y se requiere de un diagnóstico temprano para poder conservar el bazo, órgano muy importante para una mejor función inmunológica en los niños(AU)

Introduction: Torsion syndrome is included among the syndromes causing acute surgical abdomen. A rare cause of this syndrome is splenic torsion in spleens with abnormal fixation. Objective: To report on the evolution of a patient treated for torsion of an errant spleen. Case presentation: Eight-year-old female patient, non-white skin color, with a history of recurrent chronic abdominal pain, who attended the Emergency Department of the Paquito González Cueto Pediatric Hospital of Cienfuegos with intermittent acute abdominal pain of 48 hours of evolution, vomiting, painful abdomen on deep palpation in the left upper quadrant and palpable mass in the lateral flank of the same side measuring three centimeters. Splenic torsion was suspected. Doppler abdominal ultrasound and contrasted tomography of the abdomen were performed as a complementary diagnosis. Laparotomy was performed and the spleen was found to be twisted, with changes in color due to ischemia, which recovered its normal color after detorsion. The organ was fixed to the abdominal wall. The postoperative evolution was satisfactory. Conclusions: Splenic torsion, although rare, should be suspected in patients with intermittent pain and palpable mass, mainly in the left lateral flank. Contrast tomography is the diagnostic test of choice and early diagnosis is required to preserve the spleen, a very important organ for better immune function in children(AU)

Guía de Práctica Clínica sobre el síndrome de escroto agudo

RESUMEN El síndrome de escroto agudo es una urgencia quirúrgica, que si no se hace una evolución adecuada y existen demoras en el diagnostico puede el paciente tener daños irreversibles en la viabilidad testicular. Se presenta la Guía de Práctica Clínica sobre el síndrome de escroto agudo con el objetivo de hacer una actualización sobre el tema y proporcionar un instrumento asistencial y docente en los servicios de cirugía pediátrica del país. Varias enfermedades pueden ser la causa de aparición del síndrome de escroto agudo, entre ellas, la torsión testicular, la torsión de hidátides testiculares y la orquiepididimitis. El síntoma fundamental es el dolor testicular y requiere generalmente tratamiento quirúrgico. El tratamiento oportuno de estos pacientes evita complicaciones como la necesidad de orquiectomia, la esterilidad y reincorpora más rápidamente al paciente a su actividad social.

ABSTRACT Acute scrotum syndrome is a surgical emergency, which if an adequate evolution is not made and there are delays in the diagnosis, the patient can have irreversible damage in the testicular viability. The Clinical Practice Guidelines on acute scrotum syndrome is presented with the aim of updating the subject and providing a care and teaching instrument in the pediatric surgery services of the country. Several diseases can be the cause of the onset of acute scrotum syndrome, including testicular torsion, testicular hydatid torsion, and orchiepididymitis. The fundamental symptom is testicular pain and usually requires surgical treatment. The timely treatment of these patients avoids complications such as the need for orchiectomy, sterility, and that way the patient is more quickly reincorporated into his social activity.

Hipertensos Tratados e Avaliados por Telemonitoramento Residencial da Pressão Arterial. Estudo TeleMRPA / Treated Hypertensive Patients Assessed by Home Blood Pressure Telemonitoring. TeleMRPA Study

Resumo Fundamento: Hipertensos tratados avaliados apenas com a medida casual da pressão arterial (PA) podem estar sujeitos a decisões equivocadas. Objetivos: Avaliar o comportamento da PA pela medida casual e residencial (MRPA), o comportamento das classes de anti-hipertensivos e as prevalências de hipertensão do avental branco (HABNC) e mascarada não-controladas (HMNC). Métodos: Estudo transversal que avaliou pacientes pela plataforma TeleMRPA entre 2017 e 2019. Foram excluídos aqueles sem medicamentos, com 3 ou mais, em uso de espironolactona e alfa-2 agonistas. As variáveis analisadas foram: idade, sexo, índice de massa corporal (IMC), número de medidas válidas da PA, médias da PA sistólica (PAS) e diastólica (PAD) pela medida casual e MRPA, e as classes de anti-hipertensivos. Utilizados os testes t pareado e não pareado e qui-quadrado. Adotado nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: Selecionados 22.446 pacientes, dos quais 6.731 preencheram os critérios, sendo 61,3% do sexo feminino, com idade média de 57,8 (±12,6) anos e IMC médio de 29,0 (±5,1) kg/m2. Os valores médios de PAS e PAD foram 6,6 mmHg (p<0,001) e 4,4 mmHg (p<0,001) maiores na medida casual que na MRPA. As taxas de controle da PA foram de 57,0% pela medida casual e 61,3% pela MRPA (p<0,001), com prevalência de HABNC e HMNC de 15,4% e 11,1%, respectivamente. O bloqueio do sistema renina-angiotensina-aldosterona ocorreu em 74,6% das vezes e 54,8% estavam em monoterapia. Conclusões: O uso da MRPA deve ser considerado no acompanhamento de hipertensos tratados em virtude das elevadas prevalências de HABNC e HMNC. Os anti-hipertensivos tiveram comportamentos distintos nas medidas domiciliares. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2021; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0)

Abstract Background: Hypertensive patients undergoing treatment and assessed only by casual blood pressure (BP) measurement may be subject to mistaken decisions. Objective: To assess BP behavior by measuring its levels at the office (casual) and at home (HBPM), the behavior of different classes of antihypertensive drugs, and the prevalence of uncontrolled white-coat hypertension (UCWCH) and uncontrolled masked hypertension (UCMH). Methods: Cross-sectional study assessing patients who underwent BP monitoring in the TeleMRPA platform between 2017 and 2019. The exclusion criteria were: use of no antihypertensive drug; combined use of 3 or more antihypertensive drugs; and use of spironolactone and alpha-2 agonist. The variables analyzed were: age, sex, body mass index (BMI), number of valid BP measurements, means of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP, respectively) obtained from HBPM and casual measurement, and the classes of antihypertensive drugs. Paired and unpaired t tests, as well as chi-square test, were used. The 5% significance level was adopted. Results: This study selected 22 446 patients, 6731 of whom met the inclusion criteria [61.3%, female sex; mean age, 57.8 (±12.6) years; mean BMI, 29.0 (±5.1) kg/m2]. Mean SBP and DBP were 6.6 mm Hg (p<0.001) and 4.4 mm Hg (p<0.001) higher in casual measurement than in HBPM. The rates of BP control were 57.0% in casual measurement and 61.3% in HBPM (p<0.001), and the prevalence of UCWCH and UCMH was 15.4% and 11.1%, respectively. Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockade was observed in 74.6% of the patients, and 54.8% were on single-drug therapy. Conclusions: HBPM should be considered for the follow-up of treated hypertensive patients because of the high prevalence of UCWCH and UCMH. Antihypertensive drugs behaved differently in HBPM. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2021; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0)

Guía de Práctica Clínica de litiasis vesicular en niños y adolescentes / Clinical Practice Guidelines of Vesicular Lithiasis in Children and Adolescents

La litiasis vesicular en la infancia y adolescencia ha acusado un notable incremento en los últimos años. En países europeos, como Inglaterra, las colecistectomías se han triplicado desde 1997 y en el 2012 en el Hospital Infantil de Santiago de Cuba representó el 96,4 por ciento de todas las operaciones mayores electivas. En el IV Simposio Nacional de Cirugía Pediátrica (Varadero, Matanzas, 1- 3 de julio de 2019) fue presentada, discutida y aprobada esta "Guía de Práctica Clínica de litiasis vesicular en niños y adolescentes" y se recomendó, al concluir dicho evento, compartir dicha guía a través de su publicación, para que los servicios de cirugía pediátrica la empleen como referencia y la apliquen en las instituciones del sistema cubano de salud encargadas de la atención sanitaria de niños y adolescentes(AU)

Vesicular lithiasis in childhood and adolescence has had a marked increase in recent years. In European countries such as England, cholecystectomies have tripled since 1997 and in 2012 at the Children's Hospital in Santiago de Cuba accounted for 96.4 percent of all major elective operations. At the IV National Symposium on Pediatric Surgery (Varadero, Matanzas, July 1-3, 2019) this " Clinical Practice Guidelines of Vesicular Lithiasis in Children and Adolescents" was presented, discussed and approved, and it was recommended, at the conclusion of that event, to share this guidelines through its publication, for pediatric surgery services to use it as a reference and to be applied in the institutions of the Cuban health system which are responsible for the health care of children and adolescents(AU)

Guía de Práctica Clínica de enfermedad herniaria inguinal de la niñez / Clinical Practice Guidelines children´s inguinal hernia disease

La enfermedad herniaria inguinal de la niñez, comprende un grupo de afecciones de la región inguinal que tienen su génesis en fallos de la obliteración del conducto peritoneo vaginal o conducto vaginal. El propósito de los autores es compartir esta guía con los cirujanos pediátricos a través de su publicación, lo que les permitiría emplearla como referencia en sus instituciones. La enfermedad herniaria inguinal de la niñez, constituye la primera causa de operaciones electivas ‒programadas o planificadas‒ en unidades quirúrgicas pediátricas. Tiene una incidencia que varía entre 1 y 7 por ciento de la población infantil. En el IV Simposio Nacional de Cirugía Pediátrica (Varadero, Matanzas, 1- 3 de juliode 2019) se presentó, discutió y se aprobó esta guía de práctica clínica. Su aplicación en diferentes servicios de cirugía pediátrica beneficiaría a un gran número de niños con esta enfermedad, además de ser útil como orientación a profesionales encargados de la atención sanitaria a niños y adolescentes en la atención primaria de salud(AU)

Children´s inguinal hernia disease comprises a group of conditions in the groin region that have their genesis in failures of peritoneal vaginal duct obliteration or vaginal duct. The purpose of the authors is to share these guidelines with pediatric surgeons through its publication, which would allow them to use it as a reference in their institutions. Children´s inguinal hernia disease is the leading cause of elective operations, programmed or planned, in pediatric surgical units. It has an incidence ranging from 1 to 7 percent of the children population. At the IV National Symposium on Pediatric Surgery (Varadero, Matanzas, 1-3 July 2019) these clinical practice guidelines were presented, discussed and approved. Their application in different pediatric surgery services would benefit a large number of children with this disease, as well as being useful as guidance to professionals in charge of health care for children and adolescents in the primary health care level(AU)

Guía de Práctica Clínica de estenosis hipertrófica del píloro / Clinical Practice Guidelines in Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis

La estenosis hipertrófica del píloro es una enfermedad que se presenta fundamentalmente en lactantes, ocurre por un estrechamiento del canal pilórico debido a la hipertrofia gradual de la capa muscular de su esfínter, lo que origina un síndrome pilórico. El objetivo de esta publicación es presentar una actualización sobre el tema. La etiología de la enfermedad es desconocida, la tendencia actual es que se trata de una enfermedad que no es congénita y se sugiere un origen multifactorial, donde influyen factores genéticos y ambientales. Su síntoma fundamental son los vómitos no biliosos y el diagnostico se complementa con el ultrasonido abdominal. El tratamiento de elección es quirúrgico y sus resultados generalmente satisfactorios. La aprobación de esta guía por los servicios de cirugía pediátrica del país la convierten en un útil instrumento asistencial y docente(AU)

Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis is a disease that occurs mainly in infants, caused by a narrowing of the pyloric channel due to the gradual hypertrophy of the muscle layer of the sphincter, which originates a pyloric syndrome. The aim of this publication is to present an update on the topic. The etiology of the disease is unknown, the current trend is that it is a disease that is not congenital and a multifactorial origin is suggested, where genetic and environmental factors influence. Its main symptom is non-bilious vomiting and diagnosis is supplemented with abdominal ultrasound. The treatment of choice is the surgical one and its results are generally satisfactory. The approval of this guidelines by the country's pediatric surgery services makes it a useful care and teaching tool(AU)

Guía de práctica clínica de alta precoz en cirugía pediátrica / Fast Track Pediatric Surgery Guideline

En las últimas décadas se ha prestado mayor atención a los resultados de la actividad quirúrgica debido a factores económicos, la mejora de los cuidados perioperatorios y la preocupación por la calidad de la asistencia y satisfacción de la población. A este propósito han contribuido el desarrollo y aplicación de guías de práctica clínica. Estas guías reducen la variación en los cuidados del paciente quirúrgico, aumentan la eficiencia de dicho cuidado y proporcionan que los pacientes se beneficien de iniciativas institucionales encaminadas a mejorar la calidad de la asistencia sanitaria. La cirugía de alta precoz es un modelo de atención médico-quirúrgica encaminado a disminuir los costos de la atención médica mediante esfuerzos coordinados que permitan la reducción de la estancia hospitalaria en los pacientes, sin que ocurra incremento de complicaciones posoperatorias, ni insatisfacción de pacientes y familiares con el servicio prestado. Su empleo ha ido incrementándose en afecciones pediátricas. En el hospital pediátrico de Cienfuegos se aplica el modelo hace varios años y la guía fue aprobada en el Servicio de Cirugía Pediátrica en diciembre de 2018. Compartir esta guía mediante su publicación permitiría a otros servicios de cirugía pediátrica del país emplearla como referencia para la aplicación del modelo en sus propias instituciones y beneficiar a un mayor número de pacientes(AU)

In the last decades, there has been more attention on the results of the surgical activity due to economic factors, the improvement of perioperative cares and the concern on the quality of the care and the population´s satisfaction. The development and implementation of the clinical pratice´s guides had contributed to that purpose. These guides reduce the variations in the cares to the surgical patients, increase efficiency in that kind of care and foster that the patients are benefited with institutional initiatives addressed to improve health care quality. The Fast Track Pediatric Surgery is a model of medical-surgical care directed to lower the costs of medical care by means of coordinated efforts that allow the reduction of the hospital stay in patients without increasing the rates of postoperative complications, or dissatisfaction of the patients and relatives with the service given. The use of this procedure has been increasing in pediatric conditions. It has been implemented since some years ago in the Pediatric Hospital of Cienfuegos province, and the guide was approved in the Pediatric Surgery service in December, 2018.To share this guide by publishing it will be a way to allow other pediatric surgery services in the country to use it as a reference for the implementation of that model in their institutions and in that way to benefit a higher number of patients(AU)

A importância do sal na origem da hipertensão / The role of salt on the origin of hypertension

A alta ingestão de sódio na dieta está associada ao desenvolvimento da hipertensão arterial. Alguns indivíduos são particularmente sensíveis ao sódio na dieta, sendo chamados de "sal sensíveis". Estes obtêm maior grau de redução na pressão arterial (PA) com a restrição de sódio na dieta. Entretanto, a redução do sódio na dieta pode reduzir a PA tanto em hipertensos quanto em normotensos e melhorar a resposta à maioria das terapias anti-hipertensivas. Além da redução das cifras pressóricas, a redução do sódio na dieta pode reduzir o risco de doença cardiovascular. Portanto, recomenda-se reduzir a ingestão de sódio na dieta para todos os hipertensos. Metas razoáveis de redução diária na ingestão de sódio nas diretrizes atuais são < 100 meq/dia (2,3 g de sódio ou 6 g de sal ­ cloreto de sódio [1 g de sódio=44meq; 1 g de cloreto de sódio contém 17 meq de sódio]). Napopulação geral, recomenda-se a redução do sódio na dieta com objetivo de prevenir a hipertensão e reduzir o risco de eventos cardiovasculares adversos.

High sodium intake is associated with hypertension development. Some individuals are particularly sensitive to sodium in their diet, and are called "salt sensitive". These individuals obtain greater reduction levels in blood pressure when lowering the intake of salt in their diet. Nevertheless, the reduction in sodium intake can reduce blood pressure in hypertensive and normotensive subjects. Besides, there is an improvement in the response to most antihypertensive therapies and a decrease in the risk of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, it is recommended to reduce the intake of sodium for all hypertensive patients. The reasonable targets for reduction of daily sodium intake in the current guidelines are < 100 meq/day (2.3 g of sodium or 6 g of salt ­ sodium chloride [1 g of sodium = 44 meq, 1g of sodium chloride contains 17 meq of sodium]). In general population, the reduction in sodium intake is recommended to prevent hypertension and reduce the risk of adverse cardiovascular events.

Prescrição de terapias baseadas em evidências para pacientes de alto risco cardiovascular: estudo REACT / Evidence-based therapy prescription in high-cardiovascular risk patients: the REACT study

FUNDAMENTO: Dados de atendimento ambulatorial ao paciente de alto risco cardiovascular no Brasil são insuficientes. OBJETIVO: Descrever o perfil e documentar a prática clínica do atendimento ambulatorial de pacientes de alto risco cardiovascular no Brasil, no que diz respeito à prescrição de terapias baseadas em evidências. MÉTODOS: Registro prospectivo que documentou a prática clínica ambulatorial de indivíduos de alto risco cardiovascular, que foi definido como a presença de um dos seguintes fatores: doença arterial coronariana, cerebrovascular e vascular periférica; diabetes; ou aqueles com pelo menos três dos seguintes fatores: hipertensão arterial, tabagismo, dislipidemia, maiores 70 anos, histórico familiar de doença arterial coronariana, nefropatia crônica ou doença carotídea assintomática. Foram avaliadas características basais e a taxa de prescrição das intervenções medicamentosas e não medicamentosas. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídos 2.364 pacientes consecutivos, sendo 52,2% do gênero masculino, idade média de 66,0 anos (± 10,1). Dentre os pacientes incluídos, 78,3% utilizavam antiplaquetários, 77,0% estatinas e, dos pacientes com história de infarto do miocárdio, 58,0% receberam betabloqueadores. O uso concomitante destas três classes foi de 34%. Não atingiram as metas preconizadas pelas diretrizes 50,9% dos hipertensos, 67% dos diabéticos e 25,7% dos dislipidêmicos. Os principais preditores de prescrição de terapias com benefício comprovado foram centro com cardiologista e histórico de doença arterial coronariana. CONCLUSÃO: Este registro nacional e representativo identificou hiatos importantes na incorporação de terapias com benefício comprovado, oferecendo um panorama real dos pacientes de alto risco cardiovascular.

BACKGROUND: Data on outpatient care provided to patients at high cardiovascular risk in Brazil are insufficient. OBJECTIVE: To describe the profile and document the clinical practice of outpatient care in patients at high cardiovascular risk in Brazil, regarding the prescription of evidence-based therapies. METHODS: Prospective registry that documented the ambulatory clinical practice in individuals at high cardiovascular risk, which was defined as the presence of the following factors: coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular and peripheral vascular diseases, diabetes, or those with at least three of the following factors: hypertension, smoking, dyslipidemia, age > 70 years, family history of coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease or asymptomatic carotid artery disease. Basal characteristics were assessed and the rate of prescription of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions was analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 2364 consecutive patients were included, of which 52.2% were males, with a mean age of 66.0 years (± 10.1). Of these, 78.3% used antiplatelet agents, 77.0% used statins and of patients with a history of myocardial infarction, 58.0% received beta-blockers. Concomitant use of these three classes of drugs was 34%; 50.9% of hypertensive, 67% of diabetic and 25.7% of dyslipidemic patients did not achieve the goals recommended by guidelines. The main predictors of prescription therapies with proven benefit were centers with a cardiologist and history of coronary artery disease. CONCLUSION: This national and representative registry identified important gaps in the incorporation of therapies with proven benefit, offering a realistic outlook of patients at high cardiovascular risk.

Os médicos brasileiros seguem as diretrizes brasileiras de hipertensão? / Do Brazilian physicians follow the Brazilian guidelines on hypertension?

OBJETIVO: Avaliar os procedimentos adotados pelos médicos brasileiros para o diagnóstico e tratamento da hipertensão em relação aos preconizados pelas IV Diretrizes Brasileiras de Hipertensão. MÉTODOS: Questionário aplicado por entrevista telefônica a médicos brasileiros, buscando levantar recebimento e adesão às diretrizes, bem como avaliar vários aspectos relacionados ao manejo do paciente hipertenso. RESULTADOS: 68,3 por cento dos médicos receberam às diretrizes e responderam completamente o questionário, perfazendo uma amostra de 483 médicos, sendo 47 por cento cardiologistas, 31,7 por cento clínicos e 21,3 por cento nefrologistas. A adesão a certos pontos das diretrizes é alta, tais como à utilização de mais de uma medida em ocasiões diferentes para o diagnóstico de hipertensão (94,0 por cento) e orientação quanto a mudanças no estilo de vida como estratégia terapêutica. Quanto aos valores utilizados para diagnóstico e alvo-terapêutico, o seguimento as recomendações não é uniforme, com uma nítida preferência por valores inferiores aos preconizados, particularmente para pacientes com co-morbidades. A procura por fatores de risco cardiovascular também se mostrou baixa, com apenas 64,7 por cento e 56,4 por cento dos médicos referindo pesquisar, respectivamente, a presença de diabetes e dislipidemia. Os diuréticos são a classe de droga preferencialmente citada (59,3 por cento) como tratamento medicamentoso inicial da hipertensão. CONCLUSÃO: O seguimento as diretrizes é apenas parcial. Questões como uma melhor distribuição do documento, normatização de valores para diagnóstico e alvo-terapêutico e formas de abordar o paciente hipertenso dentro de seu risco cardiovascular global deverão ser mais bem abordadas quando da confecção de futuras diretrizes.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether procedures adopted by Brazilian physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension are in compliance with those advocated by the IV Brazilian Hypertension Guidelines. METHOD: Survey carried out by means of telephone interviews with Brazilian physicians. The survey featured application of a questionnaire aimed to assess receipt of and compliance with the guidelines, and to evaluate various aspects regarding the treatment of hypertensive patients. RESULTS: 68.3 percent of the respondents had received the guidelines and answered the questionnaire in full. The total sample consisted of 483 physicians - 47 percent cardiologists, 31.7 percent internists, and 21.3 percent nephrologists. The survey showed high compliance with certain guideline topics such as more than one measurement at different times for the diagnosis of hypertension (94 percent), and providing guidance regarding lifestyle changes as a therapeutic strategy. As to arterial pressure levels used for diagnosis and therapeutic target, compliance with guideline recommendations lacks uniformity. The survey showed a clear preference for pressure levels lower than those recommended, especially in patients with comorbidities. Attempts to assess cardiovascular risk also proved to be low. Only 64.7 percent of the respondents reported that they seek to determine the presence of diabetes mellitus, and 56.4 percent check for dyslipidemia. The majority (59.3 percent) mentioned diuretics as the preferred drug class for initial drug treatment of hypertension. CONCLUSION: We concluded that there is only partial compliance with Brazilian Hypertension Guidelines and that certain factors should be taken into consideration when drawing up future guidelines, such as: improved distribution; standardization of values for diagnosis and therapeutic target; more extensive coverage of ways for physicians to approach hypertensive patients to better evaluate their overall...