Acebutolol and coronary artery surgery. Plasma levels following oral pre-operative treatment.

Plasma levels of acebutolol and its major human metabolite, diacetolol, were determined before, during and after aortocoronary bypass grafting in 10 patients who had received a chronic oral regimen of acebutolol 200 mg t.d.s. for at least 6 days before surgery, a 200 mg dose with the premedication and 5-10 mg intravenously immediately before intubation. It was found that this regimen produced beta-adrenoceptor antagonist levels which were within the range in which attenuation of hypertension and tachydysrhythmia occurs. These effective plasma levels were sustained throughout surgery and persisted into the early recovery period.