Book Review: 12-Lead ECG by Bob Page

12 Lead ECG for Acute and Critical Care Providers

by Bob Page

http://www.multileadmedics.com/

Rating: Five stars

About Multi-lead medics:

Multi-Lead Medicstmis the trademarked 12 Lead ECG interpretation workshop developed by Bob Page, AAS, NREMT-P, CCEMT-P, I/C. Bob's mission is to develop and present high quality, innovative, informative and entertaining educational programs for personnel involved in the Emergency and Critical Care of patients.

Bob Page is an internationally known speaker, instructor, author and paramedic. He has presented seminars across the United States, Canada and in the United Kingdom. He is recognized for his energetic, humorous and motivational style. Bob takes ordinarily dry and hard to teach topics and transforms them into a fun, learning experience.

Bob's presentations are accompanied by exciting AV support from PowerPoint programs with graphics, animation, audio and video clips. Bob has his own system that he brings to the seminars. He has been dubbed "The Master of PowerPoint" by many educators across the nation.

Bob has been an instructor for over 3 decades teaching a variety of adult education courses from customer service to advanced medical care. He is a nationally registered paramedic and a critical care paramedic. He has been involved in EMS since 1978 when he became a CPR instructor. Bob is the Director of Emergency Care Education at St. John's Regional Health Center in Springfield, Missouri. He is the lead instructor for the paramedic program and has taught at all levels of EMS and nursing. He has earned a faculty appointment at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and also is a guest instructor at Southwest Baptist University's College of Nursing.[...]

My Take:

Bob Page hits the nail on the head with this book. It's very easy to read, and difficult to avoid learning something new. I wasn't able to put the book down the first time I opened it. Even though I am more experienced than a true beginner, when it comes to interpreting 12-leads, this book does not discriminate. If you have never seen a 12-lead you could still open this book and start learning. You would have to have an understanding of ECG rhythms, however.

I am a strong believer that 12-Lead interpretation is a relatively weak point amongst prehospital care providers. I'm generalizing here, so bare with me. The research shows that we misdiagnose 12-leads to often. This book is a step in the right direction.

After each specific lesson, Bob throws some examples at you for you to interpret. A great way to learn!!!

Chapter by Chapter:

1. Lead Placement and Acquisition of the 12-Lead Electrocardiogram
2. Understanding the 12-Lead ECG Printout
3. Determining Axis and Hemiblock
4. Understanding Bundle Branch Blocks
5. Determining Patient Risk for Complete Heart Blocks
6. Wide Complex Tachycardia
7. Acute Myocardial Infarction Pathophysiology
8. ECG Patterns of Infarction
9. Locating the AMI: The Secondary Survey
10. The 15-Lead ECG
11. Left Bundle Branch Block and Acute MI
12. Chamber Enlargement
13. Electrolyte, Drug, and Other ECG Changes
14. Putting It All Together

Chapters 1 & 2 are a great way to teach a beginner. They are also a good review for the more experienced. Chapter 2 explains all that data that you may ignore, pretty well.

Chapters 3, 4 & 5 give the best explanation of axis deviation, hemiblocks, and BBBs that I have read in a text yet. You will truly start looking at ECGs in a whole new way.

Chapter 6 helps you learn how to differentiate WCT(unknown etiology) from ventricular tachycardia. This chapter was one I personally read very carefully.

Chapters 7, 8, & 9 give you a pretty good review of AMI and STEMI. This type of teaching will absolutely reduce misdiagnosed STEMI's and improve door-to-balloon times.

Chapter 10 goes over the fairly-new art of checking other leads. He goes over right-sided, and posterior lead placement pretty well.

Chapter 11 gives you some education on how to differentiate new and old LBBB.

Chapters 12 & 13 explain some other ECG changes. RVH, LVH, and hyper/hypokalemia were all explained very well in these chapters.

Chapter 14 is full of great practice ECGs to test your knowledge.

Here are some other 12-Lead resources:

• Prehospital 12-Leads - This is a must browse blog.
• The ECG Blog - A good 12-lead archive
• Dr. Smith's ECG Blog - For the more advanced