Tutorial for ECG performance and interpretation

Following history and physical examination, ECG reading is the initial step in the electrosonography approach. This chapter offers a concise tutorial of ECG performance and interpretation. The tutorial begins with fundamentals of the ECG as a three-dimensional, vectorial view of the electrical activity of the heart. Standard electrode placement and the resultant 12 ECG leads are discussed. We introduce an algorithmic approach to ECG reading, presented as a graphic flowchart. The chapter then presents diagnostic criteria for the different branches of the algorithm, accompanied by clear diagrams and real-world ECG examples of common cardiac disorders seen in the acute care setting.