METHODS

Design:

randomised controlled trial (RCT).

Allocation:

{concealed*}†.

Blinding:

blinded (patients, clinicians, {data collectors, outcome assessors, monitoring committee}†, and data analysts).*

Follow up period:

up to 150 minutes.

Setting:

2 academic, tertiary referral EDs in South Australia.

Patients:

199 patients (approximately 52% women) >18 years of age who presented to the ED with AF and a ventricular response rate >120 beats/min. Exclusion criteria were haemodynamic instability, history of renal failure or atrioventricular node disease (except for patients with primary atrioventricular block or permanent pacemakers), or acute myocardial infarction with electrocardiographic …