Which patients undergoing noncardiac surgery benefit from perioperative beta-blockers?

Abstract

Patients with moderate to high cardiac risk (a Revised Cardiac Risk Index [RCRI] score of 2 or higher [Table]) have a reduced risk of in-hospital death following perioperative beta-blocker therapy (strength of recommendation [SOR]: B, based on a large retrospective cohort study). There is, however, no proven benefit to perioperative beta-blocker therapy without prior cardiac risk stratification (SOR: A, based on systematic reviews).