Therapeutic effect of propranolol on paradoxical hypertension after repair of coarctation of the aorta.

Patients undergoing repair of coarctation of the aorta often have self-limited but severe hypertension in the first week after surgery (paradoxical hypertension). We conducted a controlled trial of treatment with propranolol before repair of coarctation of the aorta in 14 children to determine whether the drug would prevent paradoxical hypertension. Seven patients were randomly assigned to receive propranolol for two weeks before surgery and throughout the first postoperative week, and seven patients were assigned to receive standard postoperative care. Both groups had a similar significant (P less than 0.05) increase in the plasma norepinephrine level in response to surgery; however, when compared with no treatment, treatment with propranolol reduced not only the rise in systolic (P = 0.004) and diastolic (P = 0.003) blood pressure but also the postoperative increase in plasma renin activity (P less than 0.01). We conclude that prophylactic propranolol can prevent paradoxical hypertension and should therefore become a routine part of the operative care of patients with coarctation of the aorta.