Prophylactic beta-blocker use to prevent perioperative morbidity and mortality.
Cardiovascular disease continues to be a major health concern and leads to significant perioperative morbidity and mortality. Evidence for prophylactic use of beta-blockade to decrease these complications continues to grow. Not all patients benefit from perioperative beta-blockade, thus a thorough preoperative cardiac assessment should be performed with every patient undergoing surgery. Although physicians may have doubts with this new strategy, the literature overwhelmingly supports prophylactic beta-blockade use as a safe, efficacious, and cost effective new therapy in patients at risk for cardiac complications.
Finley
Alan C
AC
Vascular Surgery Section, MUSC, 96 Jonathan Lucas St., Suite 424, PO Box 250614, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
Elliott
Bruce M
BM
Robison
Jacob J
JJ
Brothers
Thomas E
TE
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000592:standards*; D011292:Premedication; D018570:Risk Assessment
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists