The Beta-Blocker Story: Getting It Right

The Beta-Blocker Story: Getting It Right

The idea of using beta-blockers as a treatment for ventricular fibrillation occurred to James Black over 60 years ago. He developed propranolol and cimetidine, among other pharmacologic agents, work for which he won the Nobel... read more

Association Between Premorbid Beta-Blocker Exposure and Sepsis Outcomes

Association Between Premorbid Beta-Blocker Exposure and Sepsis Outcomes

This study suggests that β-blocker exposure prior to sepsis, especially to noncardioselective β blockers, may be associated with better outcome. The findings suggest prospective evaluation of β-blocker use in the management... read more

Beta-Blocker Therapy in Severe TBI

Beta-Blocker Therapy in Severe TBI

Propranolol decreases in-hospital mortality and improves long-term functional outcome in isolated severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). This randomized trial speaks in favor of routine administration of beta-blocker therapy... read more

Risk of Sepsis and Mortality Among Patients with COPD Treated With Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors or Angiotensin Receptor Blockers

Risk of Sepsis and Mortality Among Patients with COPD Treated With Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors or Angiotensin Receptor Blockers

Angiotensin receptor blockers were associated with lower rates of sepsis and mortality than angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in the patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The similar findings were also... read more

Early Resumption of β Blockers Is Associated with Decreased Atrial Fibrillation after Noncardiothoracic and Nonvascular Surgery

Early Resumption of β Blockers Is Associated with Decreased Atrial Fibrillation after Noncardiothoracic and Nonvascular Surgery

Resuming β blockers in chronic users by the end of the first postoperative day may be associated with lower odds of in-hospital atrial fibrillation. However, there seems to be little advantage to restarting on the day of... read more

Beta-Blockers Linked to Reduced Mortality in HFrEF

Beta-Blockers Linked to Reduced Mortality in HFrEF

Beta-blockers are associated with significantly reduced mortality, but not hospitalizations, in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and atrial fibrillation (AF). The researchers found that β-blockers... read more

Beta-blocker Therapy Seems to Boost Post-PCI Outcomes in Patients With ACS

Beta-blocker Therapy Seems to Boost Post-PCI Outcomes in Patients With ACS

Guidelines from the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association recommend using beta-blockers in patients with STEMI and NSTEMI, although studies looking at the effects of treatment have provided somewhat... read more

Signs of Cardioprotection Seen in Acute STEMI Patients Receiving IV Beta-blocker Post-PCI

Signs of Cardioprotection Seen in Acute STEMI Patients Receiving IV Beta-blocker Post-PCI

Patients with STEMI who receive IV infusion of the beta-blocker esmolol within 60 minutes after successful PCI tend to release smaller amounts of cardiac biomarkers than those given placebo, researchers of a single-center,... read more

AF in Sepsis: Choosing the Right Therapy

AF in Sepsis: Choosing the Right Therapy

It seems that during almost every intensive care unit shift, at least one patient goes into atrial fibrillation (AF). There are several treatment options, including calcium channel blockers (CCBs), beta-blockers (BBs), digoxin,... read more