The basics, that's it
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I used this book as a student and it helped me familiarise myself with basic ECG interpretation to a level acceptable for a student, but to move forward takes experience on the wards seeing real ECGs of real patients. A good starting point but by no means comprehensive. I understood the cardiac axis better before I read this book, but maybe that's just me.
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Very disappointing
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I'm afraid I gave up on this book after just chapter 1. I can't believe that a book that markets itself as an "idiot's guide" and that has been through 6 editions remains so confusingly written.
For example, the explanation of 'leads' is muddled at best, and the terms 'VL', 'VF' and 'VR' are seemingly plucked out of the air on page 8 with no meaningful explanation.
I do believe that ECG interpretation can be made (relatively) easily understandable, but I doubt this will be the book to do it for most people.
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Not brilliant but useful intro to ECGs
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Interpreting ECGs is difficult, at least at the start, for most medical students. This book doesn't quite make ECGs easy but it does help to provide a reasonable introduction into how to begin understanding what the little lines and squiggles mean.
It starts off with basic info on the rate, rhythm and axis of ECGs then has a chapter on each of the main arrhythmias you'll come across. Some of the very basics in chapter one are not described very well (in particular, the cardiac axis paragraphs), occasionally lacking clarity and depth but they do use plenty of pictures to demonstrate what they are explaining to you and after a couple of reads you will begin to see what they are getting at.
Others have commented that the book could do with some more clinical details but I disagree - you should have a medical text book containing a section on cardiology already. I see it as a bonus that this pocket-sized book limits itself to the difficult enough topic of interpreting ECGs.
Lastly, there are 10 practice ECGs at the end for you to test yourseslf on, with answers explained fully.
Overall, I found it to be a useful book that can give you a reasonable introduction as to how to start reading, interpreting and presenting ECGs to your colleagues. It was great for last minute cramming before OSCE-type exams (at GKT anyway!), and should be good for anyone who doesn't have a kindly cardiologist who wants to teach you how to read them him/herself!
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The best introduction to ECGs.
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On first reading, the ECG seemed slighlty clearer, a little bit more understandable. The book starts with clear first principles without being too complicated. On second reading I started start to understand some of the different CV pathologies and their respective ECGs. Then after a break of two years and a third reading, thought I was back at square one. Then on reading number four it all clicked into place - its a bit like riding a bike. So buy it....but don't expect miracles, it may take several readings to grasp the concepts intuitively but once you've got them, they really stick - then you just need to practice.
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ECG made easy
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I have tried a few times to read this book and dont think it makes ECGs all that easy, but then I do find them very hard!! I wish I had looked aroud more for something easier to read and perhaps more in depth, as I dont think there is enough info to explain properly. BUT, I have not found another simple ECG book, so perhaps this is the best there is
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