This tutorial is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan E. Lindsay, master teacher
of electrocardiography, friend, mentor, and colleague. Many of the excellent
ECG tracings illustrated in this learning program are from Dr. Lindsay's personal
collection of ECG treasures. For many years these ECG's have been used in
the training of medical students, nurses, housestaff physicians, cardiology
fellows, and practicing physicians in Salt Lake City, Utah as well as at many
regional and national medical meetings. It is an honor to be able to provide this
tutorial on the World Wide Web in recognition of Dr. Lindsay's great love for
teaching and for electrocardiography.
This interactive ECG tutorial represents an introduction to clinical
electrocardiography. ECG terminology and diagnostic criteria often vary from
book to book and from one teacher to another. In this tutorial an attempt has
been made to conform to standardized terminology and criteria, although new
diagnostic concepts derived from the recent ECG literature have been included
in some of the sections. Finally, it is important to recognize that the mastery of
ECG interpretation, one of the most useful clinical tools in medicine, can only
occur if one acquires considerable experience in reading ECG's and correlating
the specific ECG findings with the pathophysiology and clinical status of the
patient.
The tutorial is organized in sections based on a recommended "Method" of ECG
interpretation. Each section provides some didactic teaching points, often linked
to illustrations, and an interactive quiz. Beginning students should first go
through the sections in the order in which they are presented. Others may chose
to explore topics of interest in any order they wish. The ECG's range from the
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ECG Introduction
sublime to the ridiculous, from simplicity to complexity, and from boring to
fascinating. It is hoped that students will be left with some of the love of
electrocardiography shared by Dr. Lindsay.