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Is It Time to Beta Block the Septic Patient?
Philip Pemberton1, Tonny Veenith2, Catherine Snelson1
1Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Mindelsohn Way, Birmingham B15 2GW, UK.
Biomed Research International
|November 12, 2015
Summary
Beta blockers, commonly used for heart conditions, show promising outcomes in treating septic shock. This review examines their role in sepsis, drawing evidence from animal models to critically ill patients.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Critical Care Medicine
- Cardiovascular Physiology
Background:
- Beta blockers are extensively studied and widely prescribed for hypertension, heart failure, and arrhythmias.
- Their perioperative use is debated, but recent findings suggest benefits in septic shock.
- The adrenergic system plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of sepsis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the adrenergic system's function in sepsis.
- To evaluate the evidence for beta-blocker use in sepsis.
- To synthesize findings from animal models to human clinical data.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on the adrenergic system in sepsis.
- Analysis of evidence from animal models investigating beta-adrenergic stimulation and blockade.
- Review of clinical data on beta-blocker use in critically ill patients with sepsis.
Main Results:
- The adrenergic system is implicated in the complex mechanisms of sepsis.
- Animal studies provide a basis for understanding beta-blocker effects in sepsis.
- Emerging clinical evidence suggests favorable outcomes with specific beta-blockers like esmolol in septic shock.
Conclusions:
- Beta-blockers may have a beneficial role in managing septic shock.
- Further research is warranted to establish optimal use in critically ill patients.
- Understanding the adrenergic system is key to developing novel sepsis therapies.
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