Atenolol prevents the formation of expansive hematoma after rhytidoplasty.

[OBJECTIVE] To evaluate the perioperative use of atenolol in reducing the incidence of hematoma after rhytidoplasty.

[METHODS] Between January 2007 and February 2013, 80 patients were randomized into two groups: Group A (n = 26) received perioperative atenolol in order to maintain heart rate (PR) around 60 per minute; Group B (n = 54) did not receive atenolol. Both groups underwent the same anesthetic and surgical technique. We monitored blood pressure (BP), HR, hematoma formation and the need for drainage. Patients were followed-up until the 90th postoperative day. The variables were compared between the groups using the ANOVA test. Continuous variables were presented as mean ± standard deviation and the differences were compared with the Student's t test. Values of p d" 0.05 were considered significant.

[RESULTS] In group A the mean BP (110-70 mm Hg ± 7.07) and HR (64 / min ± 5) were lower (p d" 0.05) than in group B (135-90 mm Hg ± 10.6) and (76 / min ± 7.5), respectively. There were four cases of expansive hematoma in group B, all requiring reoperation for drainage, and none in group A (p d" 0,001).

[CONCLUSION] The perioperative use of atenolol caused a decrease in blood pressure and heart rate and decreased the incidence of expanding hematoma after rhytidectomy.