Introduction: hypertensive crisis is characterized by an acute and massive increase in blood pressure. Hypertensive crises encompass several clinical situations with different severity and prognosis, including hypertensive urgency and hypertensive emergency. The difference between the latter depends on whether the situation is life-threatening for the affected individual. Objective: to detail current information related to hypertensive crises, especially hypertensive emergency, definition, differentiation, etiology, epidemiology, pathophysiology, histology, clinical history, physical examination, management, differential diagnosis, prognosis and complications. Methodology: a total of 28 articles were analyzed in this review, including review and original articles, as well as clinical cases, of which 15 bibliographies were used because the other articles were not relevant to this study. The sources of information were PubMed, Google Scholar and Cochrane; the terms used to search for information in Spanish, Portuguese and English were: hypertensive crises, hypertensive emergencies, hypertensive emergencies, arterial hypertension. Results: approximately 1-2% of adults with hypertension suffer hypertensive crises. Multiple case series show that short-term treatment of hypertensive emergencies has good results; however, long-term results are unknown. The main drawback is that follow-up of individuals is lost and the medication regimen is frequently modified. Untreated hypertensive emergencies have very high morbidity and mortality and if the patient does not receive adequate education about the severity of hypertension, this trend is likely to continue. Conclusions: given the high prevalence of hypertension, it is crucial that health care professionals are able to differentiate between hypertensive emergencies and hypertensive emergencies to provide appropriate and timely treatment. Rapid blood pressure reduction is critical in the treatment of hypertensive emergencies. The choice of medications should consider both efficacy and safety to avoid further complications. A detailed clinical evaluation can help identify the underlying cause and guide treatment, highlighting the importance of an individualized approach. Lack of timely treatment can lead to severe consequences, emphasizing the need for proper management in critical situations. Constant training in the management of hypertensive emergencies is essential to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with this condition.The management of hypertension during anesthesia is critical, as its prompt detection and control are fundamental to prevent serious complications. Despite the lack of specific criteria to suspend surgery in hypertensive patients, it is essential to evaluate each case individually, prioritizing target organ damage over blood pressure levels.