title: Significance of beta-blockers in the perioperative period.
abstract: Beta-blockers have emerged as one of the key therapeutic agents that can decrease cardiac morbidity and mortality. Advances in cardiac beta-adrenergic receptor physiology and pharmacology have provided new insights into the beneficial effects of beta-blockers in cardiovascular medicine. Although significant advances have been made, many specific questions still remain to be answered. We will review some of these developments and the current role of beta-blockers in peri-operative medicine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06455, USA. shamsuddin.akhtar@att.net
authors.forename: Shamsuddin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akhtar
authors.forename: Paul G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Barash