Does β-blockade affect surgical performance?. A double blind trial of oxprenolol

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Abstract
Summary: Heart rates of surgeons rise when they carry out operations and this rise is abolished by β-blockade. In an assessment of the effect of oxprenolol on surgical performance a group of surgeons took double blind either oxprenolol 40 mg or a matching placebo. Oxprenolol abolished increases in heart rate (P < 0·001) but had no effect on a profile of performance tests assessing tremor, suturing accuracy and co-ordination. Reaction time of the surgeons was significantly slowed by oxprenolol (P < 0·01). Using a self-administered visual analogue scoring system the surgeons recorded no subjective changes in mood after β-blockade and were surprisingly unaware of whether they had taken oxprenolol or placebo.