Antihypertensive Medications and Elective Surgery

Research indicates that patients with hypertension undergoing elective major non-cardiac surgery may reasonably continue their antihypertensive medications until the day of the procedure. A multi-center trial compared the outcomes of patients who continued their ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers to those who stopped them 48 hours prior. The trial found no significant difference in post-operative complications or all-cause mortality between the two groups, although those continuing medications experienced more prolonged intraoperative hypotension. These findings suggest the importance of monitoring patients for hypotension while considering the safe continuation of essential medications during surgery.