• Marko Bukur, Thomas Lustenberger, Bryan Cotton, Saman Arbabi, Peep Talving, Ali Salim, Eric J Ley, and Kenji Inaba.
• Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA. marko.bukur@cshs.org
• Am. J. Surg. 2012 Nov 1;204(5):697-703.

BackgroundThe effect of β-blockade in trauma patients without significant head injuries is unknown. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the impact of β-blocker exposure on mortality in critically injured trauma patients who did not sustain significant head injuries.MethodsCritically ill trauma patients (Injury Severity Score ≥ 25) admitted to the surgical intensive care unit from January 2000 to December 2008 without severe traumatic brain injuries (head Abbreviated Injury Score ≥ 3) were included in this retrospective review. Patients who received β-blockers within 30 days of intensive care unit admission were compared with those who did not. The primary outcome measure evaluated was in-hospital mortality.ResultsDuring the 9-year study period, 663 critically injured patients (Injury Severity Score ≥ 25) were admitted to the intensive care unit. Of these, 98 patients (14.8%) received β-blockers. Patients exposed to β-blockers had significantly lower in-hospital mortality (11.2% vs 19.3%, P = .006). Stepwise logistic regression identified β-blocker use as an independent protective factor for mortality (adjusted odds ratio, .37; P = .007) in critically injured patients.ConclusionsBeta-blocker exposure was associated with reduced mortality in critically injured patients without head injuries. Prospective validation of this finding is warranted.Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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