Effects of the right carotid sinus compression technique on blood pressure and heart rate in medicated patients with hypertension

Abstract

Objectives: To identify the immediate and middle-term effects of the right carotid sinus compression technique on blood pressure and heart rate in hypertensive patients. Design: Randomized blinded experimental study. Settings: Primary health centers of Ca´ceres (Spain). Subjects: Sixty-four medicated patients with hypertension were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 33) or to a control group (n = 31). Intervention: In the intervention group a compression of the right carotid sinus was applied for 20 sec. In the control group, a placebo technique of placing hands on the radial styloid processes was performed. Outcome measures: Blood pressure and heart rate were measured in both groups before the intervention (preintervention), immediately after the intervention, 5 min after the intervention, and 60 min after the intervention. Results: The intervention group significantly decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate immediately after the intervention, with a large clinical effect; systolic blood pressure remained reduced 5 min after the intervention, and heart rate remained reduced 60 min after the intervention. No significant changes were observed in the control group. Conclusions: Right carotid sinus compression could be clinically useful for regulating acute hypertension.