Review Questions: Perioperative Use of ß-Blocker Therapy in Patients Undergoing Noncardiac Surgery Archana Roy, MD, and J. Norman Patton, MD Dr. Roy is a senior associate consultant, Division of Hospital Medicine, and Dr. Patton is chair, Division of Cardiology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL. The questions below are based on the article “Perioperative Use of ß-Blocker Therapy in Patients Undergoing Noncardiac Surgery”. Choose the single best answer for each question.
	1. Perioperative use of ß-blocker therapy is indicated in all of the following patients except: A 75-year-old man with a history of coronary artery disease (CAD) and uncontrolled hypertension who is undergoing exploratory laparotomy for abdominal mass A 55-year-old man with well-controlled hypertension who is scheduled for nephrectomy for renal mass A 72-year-old man with a history of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation who is scheduled for hip arthroplasty An 85-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes mellitus on insulin who is scheduled for elective gall bladder surgery Click here to compare your answer. 2. An 85-year-old man with a history of CAD, uncontrolled hypertension, and type 2 diabetes for which he takes insulin is scheduled for carotid endarterectomy. Dobutamine stress echocardiogram shows a fixed myocardial perfusion defect with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 35%. The patientıs medications include labetalol 100 mg twice a day, lisinopril 20 mg/d, and atorvastatin 40 mg/d. What changes should be made to optimize this patientıs medical management to reduce perioperative cardiac mortality and morbidity? Add metoprolol or atenolol preoperatively Discontinue labetalol and start atenolol preoperatively Discontinue labetalol and start metoprolol preoperatively Continue labetalol and make no changes Continue labetalol and adjust dose to control blood pressure and to achieve a heart rate less than 70 bpm Click here to compare your answer. 3. A 72-year-old woman with a history of mild to moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), CAD, and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is scheduled for resection of a colonic mass suspicious for malignancy. What step should be taken to reduce perioperative cardiac complications? Start low-dose atenolol or metoprolol by mouth preoperatively Start diltiazem for prevention of postoperative atrial fibrillation Do not give ß-blocker therapy as it is contraindicated in a patient with COPD Do not use prophylactic treatment as the patientıs medical condition is stable Do not recommend surgery as patient is high risk for surgery Click here to compare your answer.		4. A 65-year-old man with history of peripheral vascular disease is undergoing emergency exploratory laparotomy for perforated bowel. The patientıs medical history is significant for CAD and congestive heart failure with a LVEF of 40%. He underwent a coronary artery bypass grafting procedure 5 years ago and has had frequent angina for the last 3 months. Physical examination shows a blood pressure of 160/90 mm Hg and a heart rate of 94 bpm. What is the next step in preoperative medical management of this patient? Give atenolol or metoprolol by mouth preoperatively and titrate to achieve a heart rate less than 70 bpm Give atenolol or metoprolol intravenously preoperatively and titrate to achieve heart rate less than 70 bpm Give calcium channel blocker for blood pressure control Give angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor for better control of blood pressure Patient requires emergency surgery; recommend to proceed with surgery without further treatment Click here to compare your answer. 5. The patient in question 4 has tolerated the surgical procedure well. What adjustments should be made to his ß-blocker regimen postoperatively? ß-Blockers are not needed postoperatively; discontinue immediately Discontinue ß-blocker after 5 days Discontinue ß-blocker 48 hours after surgery Continue intravenous ß-blocker postoperatively until discharge Continue ß-blocker postoperatively for 30 days and change to oral when appropriate Click here to compare your answer. 6. A 72-year-old woman with severe, steroid-dependent COPD requires surgery for a fractured hip. Her medical history is significant for CAD and compensated congestive heart failure. An electrocardiogram shows first-degree heart block. What is appropriate treatment for her preoperatively? Start metoprolol 12.5 mg orally twice a day Start metorpolol 25 mg orally twice a day and optimize for heart rate control Start atenolol 5 mg intravenously 30 minutes prior to surgery Do not start ß-blocker as patient has severe COPD Do not start ß-blocker as patient has first-degree heart block Click here to compare your answer.
	Click here to read more about Perioperative Use of ß-Blocker Therapy in Patients Undergoing Noncardiac Surgery (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) Check our archives to test your knowledge in other featured articles: If you do not already have Acrobat Reader, simply click on the icon below, scroll down to the "Get the Free Acrobat Reader" heading and follow the instructions to install the program. Acrobat enables you to convert any document into an Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) file for easy viewing. Download Adobe Acrobat Reader
	Hospital Physician     JCOM     Seminars in Medical Practice Hospital Physician Board Review Manuals About TWC    Subscribe    Contact TWC    Home    Search   Site Map Copyright © 2008, Turner White Communications Updated 1/04/08 • kkj