Benefits and risks associated with (beta)-blocker prophylaxis in noncardiac surgery American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 03/19/2010

White CM et al. – Perioperative use of (beta)–blockers in NCS can protect against postoperative MI but increases the risk of stroke, severe hypotension, and severe bradycardia. Although less common, the strokes are severe, and the troubling trend toward increasing cardiovascular and total mortality precludes the recommendation for their use in patients not previously treated with (beta)–blockers.