Dose beta-blockade affect surgical performance? a double blind trial of oxprenolol

Heart rates of surgeons rise when they carry out operations and this rise is abolished by beta-blockade. In an assessment of the effect of oxprenolol on surgical performance a group of surgeons took double blind either oxprenolol 40 mg or a matching placebo. Oxprenolol abolished increases in heart rate (P < 0.001) but had no effect on a profile of performance test assessing tremor, suturing accuracy and co-ordination. Reaction time of the surgeons was significantly slowed by oxprenolol (P < 0.01). Using a self-administered visual analogue scoring system the surgeons recorded no subjective changes in mood after beta-blockade and were surprisingly unaware of whether they had taken oxprenolol or placebo.