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Updated: Jul 25, 2026

Testing the Efficacy of Pharmacological Agents in a Pericardial Target Delivery Model in the Swine
Published on: July 7, 2016
[Strategies for perioperative sympatho-modulation]
J Wacker1, T Pasch, M C Schaub
1Institut für Anästhesiologie, Universitätsspital Zürich.
Physicians infrequently use sympatho-modulatory therapies for perioperative cardiac care despite evidence. This review explores reasons for this gap and summarizes key therapies like alpha(2)-agonism and beta-adrenergic antagonism.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
- Cardiovascular Pharmacology
- Clinical Practice Guidelines
Context:
- Growing evidence supports sympatho-modulatory therapies for reducing perioperative cardiac events.
- These effective strategies are underutilized in routine clinical practice.
- Physicians are aware of the literature but compliance with guidelines is low.
Purpose:
- To explore reasons for the reluctance in adopting sympatho-modulatory therapies.
- To summarize the principles of current sympatho-modulatory treatments.
- To discuss emerging personalized pharmacotherapy based on genetic profiling.
Summary:
- Review of alpha(2)-agonism, beta-adrenergic antagonism, and regional anesthesia for perioperative cardiac risk reduction.
- Discussion on physician-reported barriers to guideline adherence.
- Exploration of individualized pharmacotherapy using adrenergic polymorphisms.
Impact:
- Aims to bridge the gap between evidence and clinical practice for perioperative cardiac care.
- Highlights the potential of personalized medicine in anesthesiology.
- Encourages greater adoption of evidence-based sympatho-modulatory strategies.
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