Observational studies suggest beta-adrenergic blockers may reduce overall mortality in patients with traumatic brain injury, though randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings.
Do beta-adrenergic blockers reduce overall mortality in patients with traumatic brain injury?
Beta-blockers may reduce mortality in traumatic brain injury by modulating the neurocardiac axis and preventing neurogenic stunned myocardium, but prospective randomized trials are required to confirm these observational findings.
The cardiovascular manifestations associated with nontraumatic head disorders are commonly known. Similar manifestations have been reported in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI); however, the underlying mechanisms and impact on the patient's clinical outcomes are not well explored. The neurocardiac axis theory and neurogenic stunned myocardium phenomenon could partly explain the brain-heart link and interactions and can thus pave the way to a better understanding and management of TBI. Several observational retrospective studies have shown a promising role for beta-adrenergic blockers in patients with TBI in reducing the overall TBI-related mortality. However, several questions remain to be answered in clinical randomized-controlled trials, including population selection, beta blocker type, dosage, timing, and duration of therapy, while maintaining the optimal mean arterial pressure and cerebral perfusion pressure in patients with TBI.
El‐Menyar et al. (Wed,) conducted a review in Traumatic Brain Injury. Beta-adrenergic blockers was evaluated. Observational studies suggest beta-adrenergic blockers may reduce overall mortality in patients with traumatic brain injury, though randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings.