[Perioperative administration of betablockers: a practice survey]

To evaluate the anaesthesiologists' attitude concerning the perioperative administration of betablockers (BB), especially prophylactic BB, in order to prevent postoperative cardiac complications.

A questionnaire including 20 items was sent to 700 anaesthesiologists of 4 French departments (Ain, Isere, Loire et Rhone).

The response rate was 30%. Eighty-eight percent of respondents prescribed the BB with the premedication, on the day of the surgery in patients who were on regular BB. Before major surgery, 37% percent of respondents always or usually introduced prophylactic BB in patients with high cardiac risk. Atenolol was the drug of choice for 68% of perioperative BB users. Seventy-one percent of anaesthesiologists using prophylactic BB asked for a cardiologic opinion before starting BB therapy.

In practice, anaesthesiologists continued BB during the perioperative period in patients who were on chronic treatment with BB. However, prophylactic perioperative administration of BB in patients with high cardiac risk is still inadequate and dependent on a cardiologic opinion.