Introduction:Emergency medicine is an area in which correct decisions often need to be made fast, thus requiring a well-prepared medical team. There is little information regarding the profile of physicians working at emergency departments in Brazil. Objective: To describe general characteristics of training and motivation of physicians working in the emergency departments of medium and large hospitals in Salvador, Brazil. Method: A cross-sectional study with standardized interviews applied to physicians who work in emergency units in 25 medium and large hospitals in Salvador. At least 75% of the professionals at each hospital were interviewed. One hospital refused to participate in the study. Results: A total of 659 physicians were interviewed, with a median age of 34 years (interquartile interval: 29-44 years), 329 (49.9%) were female and 96 (14.6%) were medical residents working at off hours. The percentage of physicians who had been trained with Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support and Advanced Trauma Life Support courses was 5.2, 18.4 and 11.0%, respectively, with a greater frequency of Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support training among younger individuals (23.6% versus 13.9%; p<0.001). Thirteen percent said they were completely satisfied with the activity, while 81.3% expressed a desire to stop working in emergency units in the next 15 years, mentioning stress levels as the main reason. Conclusion: The physicians interviewed had taken few emergency immersion courses. A low motivational level was registered in physicians who work in the emergency departments of medium and large hospitals in Salvador.

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Caso clínico de uma paciente idosa, com diagnóstico de hipertensão arterial há mais de 10 anos previamente controlada evoluindo com sintomas sugestivos de doença arterial coronariana sintomática em conjunto com descontrole da hipertensão arterial. Durante o seguimento foi possível confirmar o diagnóstico de hipertensão arterial resistente não controlada e a possível associação com descompensação da doença coronariana na forma de equivalente anginoso. Após ajuste medicamentoso, levando em consideração o risco cardiovascular individual da paciente e a avaliação geriátrica, as metas pressóricas e o controle sintomático da lesão de órgão-alvo foram alcançados com sucesso. Destaca-se a importância do diagnóstico preciso da hipertensão arterial resistente assim como seu controle, em especial na população idosa onde a prevalência de comorbidades e lesões de órgão alvos é maior.