According to the trial, perioperative beta blockers may decrease the incidence of myocardial infarction but the survival benefits are offset but the increase in strokes.
The study principal investigator, Dr Philip J Devereaux (McMaster University, Hamilton, ON), said he was unable to determine who would be at risk and who would benefit from perioperative beta-blocker use at this stage, but added, “I certainly would not recommend it to my mother.”
There was a decrease in nonfatal MI ( 3.6% versus 5.1%) but there were more strokes in the beta-blocker group ( 1.0% versus 0.5%) and
References:
POISEd to change the guidelines on perioperative use of beta blockers? The Heart.org.
AHA: Surgery with Beta-Blockers Onboard May Be Risky. MedPage Today.
Peri-operative beta-blockers- A quality indicator or a bad idea? Retired doc’s thoughts.
Peri-operative Beta-blockers: Much room for evidence still exists! BMJ.
Perioperative beta blockers may not benefit patients with diabetes (if not used properly)
Case 2: Does this patient need a beta-blocker?
Image source: OpenClipArt.org, public domain
Original post by Clinical Cases
