Surgical bleeding: unexpected effect of a calcium antagonist

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Calcium antagonists are among the most commonly used cardiovascular drugs. They have received regulatory approval for their antianginal and antihypertensive actions. While these agents provide appreciable improvement in symptoms in patients with angina pectoris, they have not yet been shown to prevent fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events. Indeed, evidence suggests an adverse effect in survivors of myocardial infarction and in patients with angina.1 Speculation about a neuroprotective effect of calcium antagonists is based on the observation of an excessive influx of calcium at the time of neuronal death. This postulated mechanism, together with vasodilation, formed the theoretical basis for a clinical trial in patients undergoing replacement of a cardiac valve. It has been documented that patients placed on cardiopulmonary bypass are subject to arterial microemboli.2 The recognised clinical consequences of …