Angiotensin receptor blockers and its withholding for more than 2 days in surgery resulted in higher risk to post-operative death. This was inferred based on a study including more than 3000 patients by the scientists at the San Francisco VA medical centre and UC San Francisco.

Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) are subjected to patients with high blood pressure, kidney disease, and heart diseases. In non-cardiac surgeries, the angiotensin receptor blockers are stopped after a day of the surgery. In patients with continuous issues in kidney function or low blood pressure, they are restarted. 

According to the research, it was found that the patients who were not subjected to angiotensin receptor blockers in two days showed higher chances to die in other 30 days than in the patients who were continued with angiotensin receptor blockers. 

The researchers retrieved and analysed 30,173 VA patient medical records who had undergone non cardiac surgery between the times of 1999 to 2011. The records were also checked for subjection to angiotensin receptor blockers. The researchers observed that patients who were on angiotensin receptors blockers had better chances of recovery than to those who were not resumed with the ARB.

Angiotensin receptor blockers also reduce inflammation which could be one of the reason contributing to increased risk to death in patients who were not resumed with ARB. The researchers mention a quick subjection to ARB for reduction in postoperative mortality.