Beta blockers have been shown to decrease the risk of intraoperative cardiac events in patients at high cardiac risk. However, they have also been associated with side effects (for instance, stroke.) The role of beta blockers in patients at intermediate cardiac risk undergoing surgery is controversial. Heart rate variability is a way of evaluating the cardiac function of a patient. Decreased heart rate variability is associated with early cardiac death in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) and after a heart attack. It has been shown to transiently decrease in patients in hemorrhagic shock after trauma and returns to normal after resuscitation in trauma and burn patients. The investigators hypothesize that beta blockers will maintain pre operative heart rate variability in patients with intermediate risk of cardiac events during operative intervention with laparoscopic surgery.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
50mg PO BID starting two weeks prior to surgery. Patients will be reevaluated one week prior to surgery. If their pulse is above 70, the dose will be increased to 100mg BID. If the HR is 50-70, the dose will not be changed. If the pulse is below 50, the dose will be decreased to 25mg. This dose will be continued for thirty days after operation.
Community Regional Medical Center
Fresno, California, United States
Heart Rate Variability
Time frame: 2 weeks
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