[The use of short-acting beta-blockers in cardiac surgery].

Ultra-short-acting beta-blockers play an important role in perioperative control of blood pressure, particularly in situations requiring rapid reversibility of effects. Esmolol seems to offer many desirable effects of beta-blockers, in addition to a short half-life and rapid finalization of effect. Combined therapy with vasodilators provides optimum hemodynamic control in most cases.Ultra-short action beta-blockers have proven effective for the control of arrhythmias, particularly for tachycardias of the narrow complex. The future may bring applications such as desensitization of beta-adrenergic receptors, associated with reaction to stress during cardiac surgery. The role of beta-blockers in primary myocardial protection against ischemic lesions is being investigated.