Making Sense of the ECG: A Hands-on Guide, Second Edition - Softcover

Andrew R Houghton; David Gray

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0340809787 ISBN 13: 9780340809785

Publisher: CRC Press, 2003

A practical, hands-on book for the non-expert in ECG interpretation, heavily illustrated with 2-colour ECGs specially re-drawn from original ECG printouts. A wide range of abnormalities are included. 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?' and then takes the reader through what to do about the problem identified, including 'Should I refer this patient to a specialist cardiologist?'
Chapter 1 provides a concise introduction to electrocardiography. The book is thereafter structured according to significant aspects of the ECG trace, e.g. '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 three final chapters present practical guidance on three key clinical scenarios (pacemakers, exercise testing, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation) related to ECG interpretation.
This book should be particularly invaluable to 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.

Review:

This is a readable book for those wishing to extend a rudimentary understanding of the ECG and give it a clinical context.
International Journal of Cardiology

A beautifully presented book which clearly and concisely explains the ECG. It is above all a practical guide...The illustrations are of high quality and make the text even more accessible. I would recommend this book extremely highly to junior doctors, senior medical students and cardiac nurses.
BMA Medical Book Competition Award judges comments

About the Author:

Andrew R. Houghton is a Consultant Cardiologist at Grantham & District Hospital, Lincolnshire, and a Visiting Cardiologist at Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK. David Gray is Reader in Medicine & Honorary Consultant Physician in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University Hospital, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK.

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0340809787
• ISBN 13: 9780340809785
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 288