Description
Essential ECG is a hands-on, accessible guide to recording, interpreting, and reporting ECGs with confidence.
The book begins with a clear explanation of the heart’s normal conduction system, then walks readers through lead placement and anatomical perspectives. It breaks down every component of a normal ECG before introducing a straightforward, practical algorithm for interpreting ECGs in any clinical scenario.
- Covers all major ECG abnormalities – from prolonged intervals and electrolyte imbalances to pericardial disease and pulmonary embolism.
- Seamlessly blends ECG findings with relevant clinical context for better real-world application.
- Features an extensive library of real-life ECGs, all clearly annotated and consistently presented to highlight key abnormalities.
- Ends with a ‘test yourself’ section: 50 ECGs that are common, critical or potentially life-threatening, each paired with a concise interpretation and diagnostic insight.
Essential ECG is the go-to resource for medical students, residents, and allied health professionals looking to sharpen their ECG interpretation skills and apply them effectively in everyday clinical practice.
PART I: The essentials
Chapter 1 The ECG: the what, who, when, where and why
1.1 Overview
1.2 The what
1.3 The who
1.4 The when
1.5 The where
1.6 The why
Chapter 2 The normal conduction system of the heart
2.1 Overview
2.2 Thinking about the conduction system
Chapter 3 Recording an ECG
3.1 Overview
3.2 How to record an ECG
3.2.1 Equipment
3.2.2 Preparation
3.2.3 Recording the ECG
3.3 ECG leads and their anatomical views
3.3.1 Limb leads
3.3.2 Chest leads
3.4 ECG speed and voltage calibration
3.4.1 Speed calibration
3.4.2 Voltage calibration
3.4.3 Understanding box sizes
3.5 Additional considerations
3.5.1 Posterior leads
Chapter 4 The normal ECG
4.1 Overview
4.2 The P wave
4.3 The Q wave
4.4 The R wave
4.5 The S wave
4.6 The QRS complex
4.7 The T wave
4.8 The PR interval
4.9 The QT interval
4.10 The J point
4.11 The ST segment
Chapter 5 How to read and report an ECG
5.1 Having a framework
5.2 The basics
5.3 Heart rate
5.4 Heart rhythm
5.5 Heart axis
5.6 Waves, complexes, intervals and segments
5.7 Bringing it all together
Chapter 6 Chamber dilatation and hypertrophy
6.1 Overview
6.2 Atrial dilatation
6.2.1 Left atrial dilatation
6.2.2 Right atrial dilatation
6.3 Ventricular hypertrophy
6.3.1 Left ventricular hypertrophy
6.3.2 Right ventricular hypertrophy
Chapter 7 Abnormal intervals (PR and QT intervals)
7.1 Overview
7.2 Prolonged QT interval
7.3 Short QT interval
7.4 Prolonged PR interval
7.5 Short PR interval
Chapter 8 Bradycardia and bradyarrhythmias
8.1 Overview
8.1.1 Causes
8.1.2 Clinical manifestation
8.1.3 Diagnostic approach
8.1.4 Management
8.2 Sinus node disease
8.2.1 Sinus bradycardia
8.2.2 Sinus arrhythmia
8.2.3 Sinoatrial exit block
8.2.4 Tachycardia–bradycardia syndrome
8.3 Atrioventricular node disease
8.3.1 First-degree AV block
8.3.2 Second-degree AV block: Mobitz I (Wenckebach)
8.3.3 Second-degree AV block: Mobitz II
8.3.4 Third-degree heart block
8.3.5 Third-degree heart block: with atrial fibrillation
Chapter 9 Narrow complex tachycardia
9.1 Overview
9.2 Sinus tachycardia
9.3 Atrial fibrillation
9.4 Atrial flutter
9.5 Atrial tachycardia
9.5.1 Focal atrial tachycardia
9.5.2 Multifocal atrial tachycardia
9.6 Supraventricular tachycardia
9.6.1 Atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia
9.6.2 Atrioventricular re-entry tachycardia
Chapter 10 Broad complex tachycardia
10.1 Overview
10.2 Ventricular tachycardia
10.2.1 Monomorphic VT
10.2.2 Polymorphic VT
10.3 Ventricular fibrillation
10.4 Supraventricular tachycardia with aberrancy
10.4.1 Sinus tachycardia with bundle branch block
10.4.2 Antidromic atrioventricular re-entry tachycardia
10.5 Ventricular paced rhythm
10.6 Artefact
10.7 Pre-excited atrial fibrillation
Chapter 11 Premature complexes
11.1 Overview
11.2 Premature atrial complexes
11.3 Premature ventricular complexes
Chapter 12 Intraventricular conduction delays
12.1 Overview
12.2 Right bundle branch block
12.3 Left bundle branch block
12.3.1 Left fascicular block
12.4 Bifascicular block
12.5 Non-specific interventricular conduction delay
12.6 Trifascicular block
Chapter 13 Acute coronary syndromes
13.1 Overview
13.1.1 Types of acute coronary syndrome
13.2 ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)
13.2.1 What is STEMI?
13.2.2 How to localise STEMI?
13.2.3 ECG changes post STEMI
13.2.4 Anterolateral STEMI
13.2.5 Inferior STEMI
13.2.6 Posterior STEMI
13.3 Non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI)
13.3.1 What is NSTEMI?
13.3.2 ST depression
13.3.3 T wave inversion
13.4 Unstable angina
13.5 STEMI equivalents
13.5.1 What are STEMI equivalents?
13.5.2 Wellens’ syndrome
13.5.3 De Winter syndrome
13.5.4 Hyperacute T waves
13.6 Left bundle branch block and ACS
13.6.1 Modified Sgarbossa criteria
13.7 Prior myocardial infarction
13.8 Other important things to look out for on ECG in ACS
Chapter 14 Pericardial disease
14.1 Pericarditis
14.1.1 Differentiating pericarditis from acute coronary syndrome
14.2 Pericardial effusion
Chapter 15 Electrolyte disturbance and medication-induced abnormalities
15.1 Electrolyte disturbance
15.2 Potassium disturbance
15.2.1 Hyperkalaemia
15.2.2 Hypokalaemia
15.3 Calcium disturbance
15.3.1 Hypercalcaemia
15.3.2 Hypocalcaemia
15.4 Medication-induced ECG changes
15.4.1 Digoxin
Chapter 16 Non-cardiac disease and the ECG
16.1 Pulmonary embolism
16.1.1 Overview
16.1.2 Possible ECG findings
16.2 Major intracranial event
16.2.1 Overview
16.2.2 Possible ECG findings
16.2.3 Cushing's reflex
16.3 Motion artefact
16.3.1 Overview
16.3.2 Possible ECG findings
Chapter 17 Implantable pacemakers and defibrillators
17.1 Overview
17.2 Pacemakers
17.2.1 Right atrial pacing
17.2.2 Right ventricular pacing
17.3 Pacemaker malfunction
17.4 Defibrillators
Chapter 18 Lead reversal
18.1 Overview
18.2 Left arm and right arm lead reversal
18.3 Left arm and left leg lead reversal
18.4 Precordial lead misplacement
18.4.1 Interchanging two or more electrodes
18.4.2 Mispositioning of electrodes in relation to anatomical landmarks
18.5 Steps to easily identify lead reversal/misplacement
18.6 Dextrocardia vs. lead reversal
Chapter 19 Rare but important ECGs
19.1 Overview
19.2 Brugada syndrome
19.3 Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
19.4 Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy
19.5 Athletic ECG
19.6 Dextrocardia
PART II: Test yourself
50 ECGs that are common,critical or potentially life-threatening, each paired with a concise interpretation and diagnostic insight
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