title: Safety of a postoperative beta-blocker infusion protocol for nonmonitored units in a community hospital.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the safety of a novel metoprolol infusion protocol implemented on patient care units without cardiac monitoring.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective chart review.
  
  
  METHODS
  511-bed community teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  100 high cardiac-risk patients undergoing 103 noncardiac surgeries who received 354 infusions.
  
  
  METHODS
  5, 7.5, or 10 mg of metoprolol infused over two hours.
  
  
  METHODS
  Infusion dosage and timing, vital signs and adverse events.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant decrease in heart rate was demonstrated without any significant adverse events.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our novel metoprolol infusion protocol was safe on nonmonitored units.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Hospital of Saint Raphael, 1450 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zarraga
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Atlas
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Drury
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002985:Clinical Protocols / Q000592:standards*; D003237:Connecticut; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000592:standards*; D006764:Hospitals, Community / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008790:Metoprolol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000592:standards*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D008790:Metoprolol