Overview
This popular pocket-sized reference provides the latest guidelines on arrhythmia detection and identification — all in a fast, easy-to-use format. Its concise presentation provides users with a reference for study of ECG recognition, mechanism, pathophysiology, clinical implications, pediatric considerations, bedside diagnosis, emergency treatment, and long-term cures. As always, users can count on the organization and chapter titles being consistent with those in the pocket guide's sister text, Conover: Understanding Electrocardiography, 8th Edition.
• Places the diagnosis and treatment of arrhythmias and cardiac emergencies in compact outline form.
• Gives users all the important, accurate information of its sister text, Understanding Electrocardiography, 8th Edition, including ECG recognition, mechanism, pathophysiology, clinical implications, pediatric considerations, bedside diagnosis, emergency treatment, and long-term cures — in an outline format that allows for quick and easy retrieval.
• Provides essential information on pediatrics whenever applicable throughout entire text.
• Includes an illustration of the heart which depicts step-by-step activation related to ECG.
• Explains the mechanisms of arrhythmias in a clear and concise manner with illustrations.
• Provides all forms and aspects of atrial flutter in an easy-to-use outline format.
• Presents bedside diagnosis information which helps nurses make an effective physical evaluation.
• Describes appropriate medical responses in clear terms (for example, response to paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia).
• Chapters are revised to incorporate the new American Heart Association Guidelines and new treatment modalities.
• Congenital Long QT Syndrome (Chapter 26) is extensively revised to reflect new information on genetic codes and the inherited and often fatal ECG anomaly.
• Acquired Long QT Syndrome (Chapter 27) is extensively revised. This potentially lethal condition is created by an ever-expanding list of cardiac (and non-cardiac) drugs.
• Brugada Syndrome (Chapter 28) is revised to include new genetic information.
• Atrial Fibrillation (Chapter 8) has been completely rewritten to include more information on this "growth industry of the 21st century," as well as the potential cure with focal ablation.
• The Athlete's ECG (Chapter 21) is a new chapter that shows how intense physical training is associated with ECG patterns that are a consequence of physiologic adaptations of the heart.
The book contains predominantly two-color illustrations, with some black-and-white illustrations.
Editorials
From The Critics
Reviewer: Karen S Yehle, PhD, MS, RN(Purdue University School of Nursing)Description: This is a condensed version of Understanding Electrocardiography, 8th edition (Mosby, 2003), by the same author and is intended to be a portable, summarized version of the larger text. The previous edition was published in 1998.
Purpose: The author does not specifically state the purpose for this book, but implies that it is to be used as a pocket reference guide in the clinical setting. The author does point out that the chapter on atrial fibrillation has been updated to reflect current thought and practice. I believe that the purpose is to provide the user with a reference and a study guide, as it contains key aspects of ECG identification, causes of arrhythmias, and some treatment information. Because it is portable and lightweight, it is useful for clinical practice. This new edition is a timely update.
Audience: The author states that the intended audience is emergency and critical care personnel. Additionally, I believe this book would be useful for medical students and advance practice nurses. It may be too advanced for novices, undergraduate students, or those with no experience in ECG interpretation.
Features: Both common and less common arrhythmias are discussed. There are several excellent features of this book: the abbreviation page is helpful; the index is helpful in that the primary discussion sections of a topic are in boldface type; the list of drugs that prolong the QT interval or can induce Torsades de Pointes (TdP) is excellent as a reference. Also, the book is well organized, as each chapter is broken down into sections for ease of locating information.
Assessment: This is a useful new pocket-sized edition of electrocardiography. The updated chapter covering atrial fibrillation is excellent. Additionally, the chapters that cover Brugada syndrome, the athlete's ECG, and congenital long QT syndrome are quite helpful to the reader. I recommend this handy book for emergency and critical care practitioners.
3 Stars from Doody