Diltiazem to treat sinus tachycardia in critically ill patients: A four-year experience

171 surgical intensive care unit adult patients with sinus tachycardia (heart rate >100 beats/min) after adequate intravascular volume expansion, pain, and anxiety control, in whom beta-blockade was contraindicated or had failed.

Intravenous diltiazem (slow 10-mg bolus dose, 0.1-0.2 mg/kg ideal body weight, then infusion started at 5 or 10 mg/hr and increased up to 30 mg/hr as needed).

Decrease heart rate to <100 beats/minsurrogate