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β blockers improve bypass surgery survival rates

BMJ 2002; 324 doi: 10.1136/bmj.324.7346.1118 (Published 11 May 2002)
Cite this as: BMJ 2002;324:1118.1

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  1. Scott Gottlieb
  1. New York

    Patients who take β blockers before coronary artery bypass surgery can increase their odds of surviving, a new study says.

    The study found that 2.8% of patients who took β blockers before surgery died within a month, compared with 3.4% of patients who did not take the drugs (odds ratio 0.80 (95% confidence interval 0.78 to 0.82)).

    Patients on β blockers also spent less time on mechanical ventilation after surgery and were less likely to require a follow up operation or to have kidney failure. …

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