Der Anaesthesist
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
[The hemodynamic effects of a treatment with beta-receptor blockers during coronary surgery. A comparison between acebutolol and esmolol].
Patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting are at risk for perioperative myocardial ischemia. Most such ischemic episodes occur without obvious hemodynamic changes. Tachycardia as a predictor for increased myocardial oxygen consumption doubles the incidence of myocardial ischemia when heart rate increases to over 110 beats/min. During the operative procedure for coronary revascularization, some maneuvers, e.g. intubation, sternotomy and mediastinal preparation, may be associated with tachycardia and increases in blood pressure despite an adequate level of anesthesia, so that the administration of beta-receptor blocking agents seems to be indicated. ⋯ Both beta-receptor blockers--acebutolol and the ultrashort-acting esmolol--diminish heart rate sufficiently when tachycardia occurs during coronary artery bypass grafting. Reduction of heart rate is associated with a decrease of cardiac output and an impairment of myocardial contractility. From the hemodynamic point of view there is no major difference between the two beta-receptor blockers investigated, but esmolol may have an advantage over acebutolol because of its short elimination half-life.