Effect of propranolol on surgical bleeding and hemostasis: an in vivo study in the rat.

The influence of propranolol on surgical bleeding and hemostasis was studied in two different models in the normotensive rat. Propranolol was administered for 6 days subcutaneously and for 28 days orally. In both the tail and the muscle bleeding test the blood loss after the short-term as well as the long-term administration of propranolol was diminished as compared to control values. Highly significant differences were reached in the tail bleeding test. Previous studies have described the effect of propranolol on several constituents of the highly complex hemostatic process. Some of these effects enhance, others inhibit hemostasis. It is concluded that in the normotensive rat these hemostasis-enhancing effects are of greater importance than the inhibiting ones.