The influence of chronic preoperative propranolol therapy on cardiovascular dynamics and narcotic requirements during operation in patients with coronary artery disease.

We measured the dose of sufentanil required for unconsciousness as well as the entire operation in 44 patients (22 taking propranolol and 22 not taking propranolol) undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) operations. The incidence of hypertension during operation, requirements for supplements to treat hypertension and recovery times were also determined. The data indicate that patients undergoing CABG operations taking propranolol require significantly less sufentanil for unconsciousness and the entire operation than patients not taking this drug. In spite of requiring less sufentanil, patients taking propranolol had less hypertension during operation and thus required less supplements. However recovery times in both groups were the same. The results of this study may partially explain the varying incidence of hypertension reported during high dose fentanyl and other narcotic-oxygen anaesthetic techniques.