The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 275 No 7358 p74
16 July 2005

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Beta-blockers may be of use in surgery but evidence weak

Some evidence exists to support use of beta-blockers to prevent major cardiovascular events in non-cardiac surgery but definitive conclusions cannot be drawn, say Canadian researchers.

They reviewed 22 randomised controlled trials involving 2,437 patients who had received beta-blocker treatment (ranging from intravenous beta-blocker given just before surgery to a 30-day regimen of postoperative beta-blocker).

The researchers found that perioperative beta-blockers appeared to decrease the risk of major cardiovascular events while increasing the risk of bradycardia and hypotension needing treatment. However, they warn that evidence for the beneficial effects is based on methodologically weak trials and suggest that further research is needed before definitive recommendations can be made.

The study was published online on 4 July by BMJ Online First