MedicalScienceBooks.com medical book review:

 Clinical Electrocardiography: A Simplified Approach, now in its 7^th edition, is one of the time honored classics in teaching the basic interpretation of electrocardiograms to medical professionals.  Few resources on the topic have had the longevity of this text which was originally co-authored by Emanuel Goldberger, pioneer of the augmented lead system.  Most notable of the other resources still in print is Dale Dubin’s Rapid Interpretation of EKGs which also continues to be a favorite reference.  However, Clinical Electrocardiography has a significant advantage over the Dubin text when the purpose is to inform the future and current medical professional about the significance of various rhythms and findings.

     Clinical Electrocardiography is written with a clinically oriented philosophy in mind.  The recognition of the normal and abnormal rhythms is not an end in itself but simply the first step in a clinical paradigm.  The author sets forth the “three and a half question” approach which addresses recognition, etiology and treatment potential for various rhythm and 12-lead presentations.  Although largely focused on recognition, differential diagnosis is also stressed as an aid to avoiding common interpretative mistakes which, in many cases, could mean the difference between life and death. This is critical to the development of diagnostic skills and underscores the prominence of ECG interpretation, even in these days of the early 21^st century when a plethora of medical imaging options are widely available. 

      There is no question that the main objective of any introductory electrocardiography text is for readers to understand the electrophysiological basis of the various waves and complexes on the normal ECG tracing.  Clinical Electrocardiography achieves this goal through the discriminate use of high quality diagrams which depict somewhat complex physiological concepts in an easily understandable format.  The reader is encouraged to build upon each major concept presented and the practical application of each is made clear early after their presentation.  This avoids the tendency of professional texts to “over-explain” central concepts without full integration into the main theme of the text.  Also, notable are the unusually crisp sample ECG tracings which are used throughout the text.  It would seem natural for clarity of ECG tracings to be central to any ECG reference; however, this reviewer has seen more than one ECG book on the market use somewhat scratchy tracings with indistinguishable grid markings. 

      Clinical Electrocardiography is highly recommended as an introductory text for medical students, in particular, who will need a solid foundation on which to build their clinical skills.  Other texts on the market such as Rapid Interpretation of EKGs are undoubtedly able to prepare readers with little clinical background to quickly acclimate to ECG reading.  This preparation is more adequate for the allied health fields which require quick ECG recognition skills but do not require sharp diagnostic skills.  For those who will be more directly involved in patient management and treatment depending on continued ECG analysis and advanced ECG study, Clinical Electrocardiography 7^th Edition is simply the best book on the market. 

-Reviewed By:  Joseph V. Russo, M.S.

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From the Publisher:

 Description
Clinical Electrocardiography: A Simplified Approach, 7th Edition goes beyond the simple waveform analysis to present ECGs as they are used in hospital wards, outpatient clinics, emergency departments, and intensive care units?where the recognition of normal and abnormal patterns is only the starting point in patient care. With Dr. Goldberger?s renowned ability to make complex material easy to understand, you?ll quickly grasp the fundamentals of ECG interpretation and analysis.

Audience
Cardiologists; Internists; Emergency Medicine MDs; Medical Students; Residents

Table of Contents: 

Part One: Basic Principles and Patterns

1. Introductory Principles
2. Basic ECG Waves
3. ECG Leads
4. The Normal ECG
5. Electrical Axis and Axis Deviation
6. Atrial and Ventricular Enlargement
7. Ventricular Conduction Disturbances - Bundle Branch Blocks
8. Myocardial Ischemia and Infarction, Section I - ST Segment Elevation Ischemia and Q Wave Infarct Patterns
9. Myocardial Ischemia and Infarction, Section II - ST Segment Depression Ischemia and Non-Q Wave Infarct Patterns
10. Drug Effects, Electrolyte Abnormalities and Metabolic Factors
11. Pericardial, Myocardial, and Pulmonary Syndromes
12. Wolff-Parkinson-White Preexcitation Patterns


Part Two: Cardiac Rhythm Disturbances

13. Sinus Rhythms
14. Supraventricular Arrhythmias, Section I - Premature Atrial and AV Junctional Beats, Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardias, and AV Junctional Rhythms
15. Supraventricular Arrhythmias, Section II - Atrial Flutter and Atrial Fibrillation
16. Ventricular Arrhythmias
17. Atrioventricular (AV) Heart Block
18. Digitalis Toxicity
19. Cardiac Arrest and Sudden Cardiac Death
20. Bradycardias and Tachycardias: Review and Differential Diagnosis
21. Pacemakers an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators: A Brief


Part Three: Overview and Review

22. How to Interpret an ECG
23. Limitations and Uses of the ECG
24. ECG Differential Diagnoses: Instant Reviews


Part Four: Self Assessment Problems

Questions
Answers to Self-Assessment Problems
Answers to Chapter Questions
Bibliography

Bibliographic & ordering Information
Hardbound, 352 pages, publication date: JUL-2006
ISBN-13: 978-0-323-04038-9
ISBN-10: 0-323-04038-1
Imprint: MOSBY