Objective: To find out if propranolol, a non-cardioselective beta-blocker, can reduce the anxiety associated with day case surgery.
Design: Prospective randomized double blind trial.
Setting: University hospital, Ireland.
Subjects: An unselected group of 53 patients undergoing day case surgery.
Intervention: Subjects randomised to receive either propranolol (10 mg) or placebo on the morning of operation.
Main outcome measures: Blood pressure; pulse, anxiety, pain score and patient satisfaction.
Results: Mean (SD) Hospital Anxiety and Depression score was significantly lower in the propranolol group than in the control group (2.5 (0.7) compared with 4.6 (0.7), p < 0.0001) before discharge.
Conclusion: A low dose of propranolol given on the morning of day case surgery significantly reduced patients' anxiety.