Critical Cases in Electrocardiography: An Annotated Atlas of Don’t-Miss ECGs for Emergency Medicine and Critical Care

Emergency and critical care providers are often challenged by patients with acute cardiorespiratory symptoms and abnormal electrocardiograms. Critical Cases in Electrocardiography emphasizes clinically-relevant topics, focusing squarely on situations where interpretation of the ECG contributes to clinical decision-making. This atlas is unique, in that it includes numerous examples of ECG ‘misses’ – cases where the computer algorithm or the clinicians (or both) got the diagnosis wrong. While many textbooks include only smaller, black and white ECG tracings, which do not resemble actual clinical practice, this volume is designed to encourage self-study of the ECG by including full-page tracings in their natural color. The book focuses on ‘don’t miss’ ECG tracings in order to help readers advance beyond the stage of ‘competent’ electrocardiographer. Anatomic and electrophysiologic correlations are emphasized throughout the work, helping readers appreciate the anatomic and electrical origins of the ECG abnormalities, rather than relying solely on pattern memorization.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 The Normal Electrocardiogram A Brief Review
Chapter 2 Inferior Wall Myocardial Infarction
Chapter 3 Anterior Wall Myocardial Infarction
Chapter 4 Posterior Wall Myocardial Infarction
Chapter 5 The Electrocardiography Of Shortness Of Breath
Chapter 6 Confusing Conditions ST-segment Depressions And T-wave Inversions
Chapter 7 Confusing Conditions ST-segment Elevations And Tall T-waves (coronary Mimics)
Chapter 8 Critical Cases At 3 A.m.