Influence of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors on hypotension after anesthetic induction: is the preoperative discontinuation of this drug necessary?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The discontinuation of drugs such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) has been suggested based on reports of hypotension during anesthesia. This may imply on a higher risk of intraoperative hypertensive peaks with deleterious consequences for the patient. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of the preoperative use of ACE inhibitors on the development of hypotension during anesthesia. METHODS: This is a case-controlled study of patients who developed hypotension after anesthetic induction. The control group was composed of patients of the same age and gender who underwent surgeries during the same period and who did not develop hypotension. Parameters of interest included: age, gender, size of the surgery, prior diagnosis of hypertension, use of ACE inhibitors, physical status (ASA), intraoperative bleeding, anesthetic technique, and duration of the surgery. RESULTS: In 2,179 surgeries, 40 patients developed hypotension. Twenty of those patients used ACEIs on the day of the surgery. The control group was composed by 171 patients, 11 of which used ACE inhibitors. Univariate analysis showed an association between hypertension and advanced age (p < 0.001), prior diagnosis of hypertension (p < 0.001), use of ACEIs (p = 0.006), physical status (ASA) (p = 0.006), and size of the surgery (p = 0.028). Stratified analysis did not show an association between hypotension and use of ACE inhibitors. On logistic regression, the association between the size of the surgery and the age of the patient and the development of hypotension remained. CONCLUSIONS: We did not observe an association between the use of ACE inhibitors and hypotension during anesthesia. The authors considered that the recommendation to discontinue ACE inhibitors on the day before the surgery should be reviewed. Other studies are necessary to confirm those results.

Influência do uso crônico dos inibidores da enzima conversora da angiotensina na hipotensão arterial após indução anestésica: é necessário suspender esse fármaco no pré-operatório? / Influencia del uso crónico de los inhibidores de la enzima conversora de la angiotensina en la hipotensión arterial después de la inducción anestésica: ¿es necesario suspender ese fármaco en el preoperatorio? / Influence of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors on hypotension after anesthetic induction: is the preoperative discontinuation of this drug necessary?

Justificativa e objetivos: Tem sido sugerida a suspensão de medicamentos como os inibidores da enzima conversora de angiotensina (IECA) com base em relatos de hipotensão arterial durante a anestesia. Isso pode implicar em maior risco de picos hipertensivos no intraoperatório, com efeitos deletérios para o paciente. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a influência dos IECA utilizados no pré-operatório na ocorrência de hipotensão arterial...

Background and objetives: The discontinuation of drugs such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) has been suggested based on reports of hypotension during anesthesia. This may imply on a higher risk of intraoperative hypertensive peaks with deleterious consequences for the patient. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of the preoperative use of ACE inhibitors on the development of hypotension...

Justificativa y objetivos: En base a relatos de hipotensión arterial durante la anestesia, se ha sugerido la suspensión de medicamentos como los inhibidores de la enzima conversora de angiotensina (IECA). Eso puede redundar en un riesgo más elevado de picos hipertensivos en el intraoperatorio y con efectos perjudiciales para el paciente. El objetivo de este estudio, fue evaluar la influencia de los IECA utilizados en el preoperatorio si surge la hipotensión arterial...