Making Sense of ECG

practical, hands-on text for the non-expert in ECG interpretation, this guide covers a wide range of cardiovascular abnormalities. ECG interpretation is explained in the context of overall patient assessment, with emphasis on crucial questions such as, 'are the abnormalities I can see significant?' and 'has this patient had a myocardial infarction?' It then takes the reader through what to do about the problem identified, including, 'should I refer this patient to a specialist cardiologist?' Chapter one provides a concise introduction to electrocardiology. Thereafter, the text is structured according to significant aspects of the ECG trace, for example, 'the P wave' and 'the ST segment', aiding the development of essential pattern recognition skills. Information related to specific medical conditions or to specific ECG patterns is readily accessible via two special contents lists at the front of the book. The final three chapters present practical guidelines on three key clinical scenarios (pacemakers, exercise testing and cardiopulmonary resuscitation) related to ECG interpretation. The title should be useful for any non-cardiologist dealing with a cardiac problem in the middle of the night; it includes strict guidance on when to proceed and when to wake the expert up.