Pocket Guide to ECGs

Duncan Guy is a cardiology fellow at Westmead Hospital, Sydney. He is currently completing his PhD research in the field of electrophysiology.

Introduction vii
Section 1 The normal ECG 1
General advice on interpreting EC Gs 2
EC G standard conventions 2
Recording lead positions 10
Steps in interpretation of an EC G and normal values 16
Section 2 Common abnormalities 35
Heart rate 36
Rhythm 37
P waves 55
PR interval 57
QRS complex duration prolonged 66
ST segments abnormal 77
ST segment depression 82
T waves abnormal 86
QT interval abnormal 86
Section 3 Diagnostic features of common
disorders (a quick reference) 91
Atrial fibrillation 92
Atrial flutter 94
Atrial ectopics 96
Ventricular ectopics 98
Bigeminy 98
Ventricular tachycardia 100
Supraventricular tachycardia 102
Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome 104
Junctional rhythm 106
Left bundle branch block (LBBB) 108
Right bundle branch block (RBBB) 110
Right bundle branch block (partial) 112
Left anterior fascicular (hemi) block 114
vi Contents
Left posterior fascicular (hemi) block 116
Acute anterior myocardial infarction 118
Acute anterolateral myocardial infarction 120
Acute inferior myocardial infarction 122
Acute posterior myocardial infarction 124
Old myocardial infarction 126
Myocardial ischaemia 128
First-degree atrioventricular block 130
Second-degree atrioventricular block (Mobitz type 1,
Wenckebach phenomenon) 132
Second-degree atrioventricular block (Mobitz type 2) 134
Third-degree atrioventricular block (complete heart block) 136
Right ventricular hypertrophy 138
Left ventricular hypertrophy 140
Pericarditis 142
Pericardial effusion 144
Section 4 Pacemakers and ECGs 147
Pacemakers 148
Index 157