Arar 2007.

Methods	RCT, parallel design
Participants	Total number of randomized participants: 80 Inclusion criteria: scheduled for CABG surgery, with planned extubation in the ICU Exclusion criteria: preoperative ejection fraction < 40%; history of asthma; receiving vasodilator and inotropic support by infusion; allergic to study drugs Type of surgery: elective CABG Baseline characteristics Intervention group (esmolol) Age, mean (SD): 57.43 (± 8.03) years Gender, M/F: 17/23 Preoperative use of beta‐blockers, %: 100 Control group (placebo) Age, mean (SD): 59.18 (± 9.91) years Gender, M/F: 16/24 Preoperative use of beta‐blockers, %: 100 Country: Turkey Setting: hospital; single centre
Interventions	Intervention group (esmolol) Randomized, n = 40; losses, n = 0; analysed, n = 40 Details: 1 mg/kg esmolol diluted to 20 mL, administered over 5 min just before tracheal extubation Control group (placebo) Randomized, n = 40; losses, n = 0; analysed, n = 40 Details: 20 mL normal saline, given the same as the intervention group
Outcomes	Outcomes measured/reported by study authors: haemodynamic variables; hypotension; bradycardia Outcomes relevant to the review: hypotension (see notes); bradycardia (see notes)
Notes	Funding/declarations of interest: not reported Study dates: not reported Note: study included an additional group (magnesium), which we did not include in the review we did not include data for hypotension and bradycardia in analysis, because we could not be certain that data were reported in both groups. Study authors reported that "no hypotension or bradycardia related to esmolol was seen"
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Not specified
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Not specified
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Quote: "The drugs were prepared by one anaesthesiologist and administered by another who did not know its identity"
Blinding of outcome assessors (detection bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	Not specified
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	No apparent losses
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Unclear risk	Study authors did not report prospective clinical trial registration or publication of a protocol. It was not feasible to effectively assess risk of reporting bias
Other bias	Low risk	Not detected