Interpreting Difficult ECGs

Book excerpt: Interpreting Difficult ECGs: A Rapid Reference provides nurses and other health care professionals with systematic methods for interpreting difficult waveforms—from arrhythmias to ECG changes in acute coronary syndromes, bundle branch block, hypertrophy, and abnormalities caused by electrolyte disturbances and drugs. Chapters cover ECG fundamentals, interpreting rhythm strips, interpreting 12-lead ECGs, and understanding the effects of drugs, pacemakers, and other treatments on ECGs. The book contains more than 200 illustrations, including graphic waveforms, exact lead placement, and charts of key concepts such as selecting the best monitoring lead. A section of practice strips is included. Helpful quick-reference appendices cover major arrhythmias and antiarrhythmic drugs.