RAGEback: Minh Le Cong, Verapamil and SVT

The discussion of verapamil as an option for the treatment of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) in RAGE Session Two went off like a fire cracker in the FOAM world.

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In this RAGEback, Minh Le Cong from the PHARM podcast explains why the RAGE discussion is not going to change his practice, which is to use adenosine as a first line agent.

This is followed by a response by RAGErs Karel and Cliff.

You — the listener — are left to make up your own mind about which patients (if any) you’ll consider verapamil as an option.


Minh cites these references (in the order they were mentioned):

  • Leitner RP, Hawker RE, Celermajer JM. Intravenous verapamil in the treatment of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia in children. Aust Paediatr J. 1983 Mar;19(1):40-4. PMID: 6870700.
  • Delaney B, Loy J, Kelly AM. The relative efficacy of adenosine versus verapamil for the treatment of stable paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia in adults: a meta-analysis. Eur J Emerg Med. 2011 Jun;18(3):148-52. doi: 10.1097/MEJ.0b013e3283400ba2. Review. PMID: 20926952.
  • Hood MA, Smith WM. Adenosine versus verapamil in the treatment of supraventricular tachycardia: a randomized double-crossover trial. Am Heart J. 1992 Jun;123(6):1543-9. PMID: 1595533.
  • Anugwom C, Sulangi S, Dachs R. Adenosine vs. calcium channel blockers for supraventricular tachycardia. Am Fam Physician. 2007 Jun 1;75(11):1653-4. Review. PMID: 17575655.
  • Brady WJ Jr, DeBehnke DJ, Wickman LL, Lindbeck G. Treatment of out-of-hospital supraventricular tachycardia: adenosine vs verapamil. Acad Emerg Med. 1996 Jun;3(6):574-85. PMID: 8727628.

Karel and Cliff added these to the mix:

Roie Tal: Journal club Prezi on the Lapage et al 2013 article:


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Thanks again for listening to the RAGE!

Chris is an Intensivist and ECMO specialist at The Alfred ICU, where he is Deputy Director (Education). He is a Clinical Adjunct Associate Professor at Monash University, the Lead for the  Clinician Educator Incubator programme, and a CICM First Part Examiner.

He is an internationally recognised Clinician Educator with a passion for helping clinicians learn and for improving the clinical performance of individuals and collectives. He was one of the founders of the FOAM movement (Free Open-Access Medical education) has been recognised for his contributions to education with awards from ANZICS, ANZAHPE, and ACEM.

His one great achievement is being the father of three amazing children.

On Bluesky, he is @precordialthump.bsky.social and on the site that Elon has screwed up, he is @precordialthump.

| INTENSIVE | RAGE | Resuscitology | SMACC

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