Impact of perioperative bleeding on the protective effect of β-blockers during infrarenal aortic reconstruction.

Journal article

BACKGROUND: The use of β-blockers during the perioperative period remains controversial. Although some studies have demonstrated their protective effects regarding postoperative cardiac complications, others have demonstrated increased mortality when β-blockers were introduced before surgery. METHODS: In this observational study involving 1,801 patients undergoing aortic reconstruction, we prospectively assessed β-blocker therapy compared with no β-blocker therapy, with regard to cardiac and noncardiac postoperative outcomes using a propensity score approach. The impact of β-blockers was analyzed according to the intraoperative bleeding estimated by transfusion requirements. RESULTS: In-hospital mortality was 2.5% (n=45), β-blocker use was associated with a reduced frequency of postoperative myocardial infarction (OR=0.46, 95% CI [0.26; 0.80]) and myocardial necrosis (OR=0.62, 95% CI [0.43; 0.88]) in all patients, but also with an increased frequency of multiple organ dysfunction syndromes (OR=2.78, 95% CI [1.71; 4.61]). In patients with severe bleeding (n=163; 9.1%), the frequency of in-hospital death (OR=6.65, 95% CI [1.09; 129]) and/or multiple organ dysfunction syndromes (OR=4.18, 95% CI [1.81; 10.38]) were markedly increased. Furthermore, no more than 28% of the patients who died presented with postoperative myocardial infarction, whereas 69% of the patient with a postoperative myocardial infarction also presented an excessive bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative β-blocker therapy was associated with an overall reduction in postoperative cardiac events. In the vast majority of patients with low perioperative bleeding, the global effect of β-blockers was protective; in contrast, patients given β-blockers who experienced severe bleeding had higher mortality and an increased frequency of multiorgan dysfunction syndrome.

Authors: Le Manach, Y; Collins, G; Ibanez, C; Goarin, J; Coriat, P

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Anesthesiology
• Volume: 117
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 1203-1211
• Publication date: 2012-12-01
• DOI: 10.1097/aln.0b013e31825adaea
• EISSN: 1528-1175
• ISSN: 0003-3022
• Language: English
• Keywords: Female; Aged; Male; Cardiovascular Diseases; Middle Aged; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Treatment Outcome; Blood Loss, Surgical; Prospective Studies; Aorta, Abdominal; Hospital Mortality; Humans; Acute Kidney Injury; Perioperative Care