Perioperative Beta Blockers for Noncardiac Surgery

Abstract This chapter appraises the role of perioperative beta blockers in reducing cardiac risk for patients undergoing major noncardiac surgery. It asses a large observational study using data from over 600,000 patients across 329 hospitals, comparing outcomes for those who received beta blockers within the first 2 days of hospitalization. The study found no significant reduction in in-hospital mortality but observed benefits such as reduced atrial fibrillation. Limitations included the arbitrary assignment of beta blockers to use and exclusion of postoperative events. Finally, the chapter concludes that certain high-risk patients might benefit from beta blockers but they must be used cautiously in others, as indiscriminate use can cause adverse outcomes like bradycardia, hypotension, and stroke.