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Published on: September 24, 2021
Perioperative Management of Beta Blockers and Other Antiarrhythmic Medications
1Department of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, United States.
Background:
Antiarrhythmic medications are an important tool in preventing recurrence of intraoperative and postoperative arrhythmias.
Objective:
To review current literature and recommendations for perioperative management of antiarrhythmic medications.
Methods:
Literature review is presented along with the pharmacology of antiarrhythmics.
Results:
Antiarrhythmic medications should be continued perioperatively for the prevention of arrhythmias intra- and postoperatively. However, beta blockers have had controversies regarding their perioperative safety profile.
Conclusion:
Continuation of antiarrhythmic medications is safe perioperatively. However, initiation of beta blockers should be patient-tailored and titrated to a target heart rate in advance surgery.
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