The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 25, 117-121, Copyright © 1978 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Myocardial revascularization in patients receiving long-term propranolol therapy
MM Kirsh, DM Behrendt, AP Jackson, P Dhadphale, S Alseri, J Brymer, MB Orringer and H Sloan
Twenty-seven patients receiving long-term propranolol therapy underwent
myocardial revascularization to relieve stable or unstable angina. The
patients were randomly divided into two groups, one (Group 1) in which
propranolol was discontinued 48 hours prior to operation and one (Group 2)
in which patients received a final dose of propranolol 1 to 2 hours prior
to operation. Several physiological variables were compared, and there was
no statistically significant difference between the groups except for a
slower pulse rate in Group 2 patients. Although the patients in Group 1
showed a greater frequency of hypertension before bypass, the incidence of
postoperative complications and perioperative myocardial infarction was the
same for both groups. The findings of this study indicate that myocardial
revascularization is safe even if propranolol is administered up to 1 or 2
hours before operation.