Anesthesiology
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Comparative Study
Perioperative β-blockade: atenolol is associated with reduced mortality when compared to metoprolol.
The Atenolol study of 1996 provided evidence that perioperative β-blockade reduced postsurgical mortality. In 1998, the indications for perioperative β-blockade were codified as the Perioperative Cardiac Risk Reduction protocol and implemented at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The current study tested the following hypothesis: Is there a difference in mortality rates between patients receiving perioperative atenolol and metoprolol? ⋯ Perioperative β-blockade using atenolol is associated with reduced mortality compared with metoprolol.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Intraoperative tranexamic acid reduces blood transfusion in children undergoing craniosynostosis surgery: a randomized double-blind study.
Surgical correction of craniosynostosis in children is associated with substantial intraoperative bleeding. Tranexamic acid (TXA) decreases intraoperative blood loss during cardiac or orthopedic surgery in children. We hypothesized that intraoperative TXA would reduce blood transfusion relative to placebo in patients pretreated with erythropoietin. ⋯ In children undergoing surgical correction of craniosynostosis and pretreated with erythropoietin, intraoperative TXA reduces the transfusion requirement.
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Comparative Study
Chronic β blockade is associated with a better outcome after elective noncardiac surgery than acute β blockade: a single-center propensity-matched cohort study.
Current guidelines on perioperative care recommend the prophylactic use of β blockers in high-risk patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. However, recent studies show that, in some instances, perioperative β blockade can cause harm. Furthermore, chronic β blockade, titrated to effect before surgery, may be superior to acute perioperative β blockade. The primary objective of this study was to compare major acute cardiac outcomes in patients who underwent surgery with chronic β blocker therapy with those in patients with acute β-blocker therapy. ⋯ Acute β blockade, initiated within the first 2 days after surgery, was associated with worse cardiac outcome compared with a matched cohort of patients who underwent surgery on chronic β blockade. These results should be validated in a larger prospective trial.