Impact of Renin-Angiotensin System Inhibitors Continuation on Outcome After Major Surgery

More than 200 million major surgical procedures are performed annually worldwide. Many of these patients have comorbidities including hypertension and/or heart failure. Chronic treatment of hypertension and/or heart failure very often includes a Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) inhibitor (Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (ACE-Is) or Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBs). To stop or not to stop these medications before major surgery remain unknown. Data on management of RAS inhibitors before major surgery and anesthesia remain lacking and matter of debate. It is much likely that the strategy regarding management of RAS inhibitors in the peri-operative setting have important impact on peri-operative complications. The lack of evidence leads to conflicting guidelines with respect to RAS inhibitors management before major surgery. While French guidelines are to stop RAS inhibitors patients with hypertension to avoid profound anesthestic-drugs-induced hypotension, international guidelines differ. The American heart association task force states that continuation of RAS inhibitors perioperatively is reasonable (class IIa recommendation,level of evidence: B). The purpose of this study is to determine the prognostic impact of withholding vs continuing ARBs before major non cardiac surgery.