THE RESULTS OF MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT OF ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSION

Abstract

151 patients were studied over a period of yrs. 96 received purely medical treatment (rest and sedation); 55 were sympathectomized. In benign hypertension after 1 and after 3 yrs., the group treated surgically had fewer symptoms. Almost all of the surgical group were able to work, and many were symptom-free. The diastolic pressure fell by about 8 mm. in the surgical group and rose by the same amt. in the medically treated group. The death rate in the group seeking attention for benign hypertension is about 5 times that in the population as a whole. There was no mortality difference between medically and surgically treated patients in this study. Data from 30 individuals with malignant hypertension suggest that surgery leads to greater well-being in the survivors.