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EKG Interpretation

Goals:

  1. To understand the basic terminology and techniques of EKGs
  2. To gain familiarity with “the normal EKG”
  3. To learn and practice a standardized sequence of EKG interpretation
  4. To learn and be able to recognize several common EKG abnormalities
Readings:

We suggest you read one of the following books on EKGs:

  1. Dubin, Rapid Interpretation of EKG’s, Sixth Edition, 2000. Amazon link
  2. Thaler, The Only EKG Book You’ll Ever Need, Seventh Edition, 2012. Amazon link
Students should be familiar with the following:

  1. The normal EKG (including determination of rate, rhythm, intervals, axis, evidence for hypertrophy and ischemic changes)
  2. Supraventricular tachycardias (including SVT, afib and atrial flutter)
  3. Ventricular tachycardias (including vtach and vfib)
  4. Left and right bundle branch blocks
  5. 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree heart blocks
  6. Ischemic changes (including localization of acute myocardial infarctions)
  7. Hyperkalemia