The Only EKG Book You'll Ever Need, 9/e


Author: Thaler
Edition: 9th
ISBN: 9789387506565
Language: English
Published: 2018
Publisher: Wolters Kluwer

Clear and concise, The Only EKG Book You'll Ever Need has provided quick and accurate discussions on using an EKG to diagnose cardiac and non-cardiac conditions for nearly 30 years.

The Only EKG Book You'll Ever Need, 9/e

About

Clear and concise, The Only EKG Book You'll Ever Need has provided quick and accurate discussions on using an EKG to diagnose cardiac and non-cardiac conditions for nearly 30 years. This ninth edition is packed with full-color illustrations, real-world clinical scenarios, and step-by-step instructions—giving you the practical guidance you need to use an EKG in actual clinical settings with patients. 

Key Features

  • Outlines processes for identifying and interpreting arrhythmias, myocardial infarctions, hypertrophy, atrial fibrillation, and other disorders. 
  •  Features a lighthearted, lively writing style designed to be compelling and minimize confusion of principles discussed.
  • New content added to reflect recent clinical and technological advancements.
  • Depicts real-life clinical situations and provides important clinical context for EKG use.
  • Advises on the dangers of over-reliance on computer interpretations and includes many other practical considerations that other books leave out.
  • Online resources are not available with this text 

Table of Contents

Getting Started 1

Chapter 1

The Basics 9

Electricity and the Heart 10

The Cells of the Heart 13

Time and Voltage 18

P Waves, QRS Complexes, T Waves, and Some Straight Lines 20

Naming the Straight Lines 29

Summary: The Waves and Straight Lines of the EKG 31

Making Waves 33

The 12 Views of the Heart 38

A Word About Vectors 47

The Normal 12-Lead EKG 49

Summary: Orientation of the Waves of the Normal EKG 60

Some Really Important Stuff That You May Be Wondering:

Part 1: Why Not Just Let the Computer Do It? 62

Some Really Important Stuff That You May Be Wondering:

Part 2: How Do I Get the Goop Off My Patient’s Chest Once the EKG Is

Finished? 63

Coming Attractions 64

Chapter 2

Hypertrophy and Enlargement of the Heart 65

A Few Introductory Remarks 66

Definitions 67

Axis 70

Summary: Axis 78

Axis Deviation, Hypertrophy, and Enlargement 81

Atrial Enlargement 84

Summary: Atrial Enlargement 87

Ventricular Hypertrophy 88

Secondary Repolarization Abnormalities of Ventricular Hypertrophy 94

Summary: Ventricular Hypertrophy 97

CASE 1 98

CASE 2 100

Chapter 3

Arrhythmias 103

The Clinical Manifestations of Arrhythmias 105

Why Arrhythmias Happen 106

Rhythm Strips 107

How to Determine the Heart Rate From the EKG 110

The Five Basic Types of Arrhythmias 114

Arrhythmias of Sinus Origin 115

Summary: Arrhythmias of Sinus Origin 121

Ectopic Rhythms 123

Reentrant Rhythms 124

The Four Questions 126

Supraventricular Arrhythmias 129

Summary: Supraventricular Arrhythmias 146

Ventricular Arrhythmias 147

Summary: Ventricular Arrhythmias 153

Supraventricular Versus Ventricular Arrhythmias 154

Summary: Ventricular Tachycardia Versus Supraventricular Tachycardia With

Aberrancy 161

Electrophysiology Studies (EPS) 162

Implantable Defibrillators 164

External Defibrillators 165

CASE 3 167

CASE 4 170

CASE 5 172

Chapter 4

Conduction Blocks 175

What Is a Conduction Block? 176

AV Blocks 178

Summary: AV Blocks 188

Bundle Branch Block 190

Summary: Bundle Branch Block 196

Hemiblocks 197

Combining Right Bundle Branch Block and Hemiblocks 202

Blocks That Underachieve 205

The Ultimate in Playing With Blocks: Combining AV Blocks, Right Bundle Branch

Block, and Hemiblocks 206

Pacemakers 208

CASE 6 213

CASE 7 215

CASE 8 216

Chapter 5

Preexcitation Syndromes 219

What Is Preexcitation? 220

Wolff–Parkinson–White 221

A Short PR Interval Without a Delta Wave 223

Why Do We Care About Preexcitation? 224

Summary: Preexcitation 230

CASE 9 231

Chapter 6

Myocardial Ischemia and Infarction 233

Stable Angina and Acute Coronary Syndromes 234

How to Diagnose a Myocardial Infarction 237

ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarctions (STEMIs) 240

Summary: The EKG Changes of an Evolving STEMI 251

Localizing the Infarct 252

Non–ST-Segment Myocardial Infarctions (non-STEMIs) 264

Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy 265

Angina Without Infarction 267

Sorting Out the Different Ischemic Syndromes 269

Limitations of the EKG in Diagnosing an Infarction 271

Stress Testing 272

CASE 10 277

CASE 11 282

Chapter 7

Finishing Touches 285

Electrolyte Disturbances 287

Hypothermia 292

Drugs 293

More on the QT Interval 297

Other Cardiac Disorders 299

Pulmonary Disorders 305

Central Nervous System Disease 307

Sudden Cardiac Death 308

The Athlete’s Heart 311

Preparticipation Screening for Athletes 312

Sleep Disorders 314

The Preoperative Evaluation 316

Summary: Miscellaneous Conditions 317

CASE 12 320

CASE 13 323

Chapter 8

Putting It All Together 325

The 9-Step Method for Reading EKGs 328

Chapter 9

How Do You Get to Carnegie Hall? 351