Comparison of Weight-Based Dose vs. Standard Dose Diltiazem in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Presenting to the Emergency Department.

Background: Despite evidence-based recommended weight-based (WB) dosing of diltiazem for the initial treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) with rapid ventricular response (RVR), many providers utilize lower initial doses of diltiazem.

Objective: We sought to determine whether a low, standard dose of diltiazem is noninferior to WB diltiazem as an initial bolus dose in the treatment of AF with RVR.

Methods: This retrospective review included patients who presented to the emergency department (ED) of an urban, academic tertiary medical center experiencing AF with RVR from November 2010 to August 2014.

Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate (ZS-9): A Novel Agent for the Treatment of Hyperkalemia.

Hyperkalemia is a potentially life-threatening electrolyte abnormality that may be caused by select medications, underlying organ dysfunction, or alterations in potassium homeostasis. Treatment for this condition has remained largely unchanged since the release of sodium polystyrene sulfonate (SPS) in 1958. Despite its widespread use, the safety and efficacy of SPS remains controversial.