Master ECG Interpretation

Sparkson’s Illustrated Guide to ECG Interpretation is an ECG reference unlike any other. Each section was individually designed with vibrant illustrations to motivate you to investigate what’s next! The course is comprehensive in its scope, covering everything you’ll need to learn in a university ECG course. Whether you’re new to the subject of ECG interpretation or looking to brush up on your knowledge, this course will continue to spark your interest in ECGs for a lifetime.

Who is Sparkson, anyway? He’s the hero of our course - an electric impulse from the SA node! Sparkson’s Illustrated Guide offers an adventure in the world of ECG Interpretation and electrophysiology, complete with an electrifying cast of characters.

  • Easy ECG Interpretation

  • Practice with 12-lead ECGs

  • Unique, full-color illustrations

  • Comprehensive in scope

Course Curriculum

  • 1

    Welcome

    • Cover

    • Preface

    • Sparkson's Adventure
  • 2

    Chapter 1: Anatomy and Physiology

    • Chapter 1 Cover Art

    • Overture

    • Introduction to ECGs

    • The Heart Cells

    • Depolarization

    • Action Potential

    • The Refractory Period

    • Pacemaker Cells

    • Action Potential of a Pacemaker Cell

    • The Atrial Conduction System

    • The Cardiac Conduction System

    • The Heart as a Pump

    • Cardiac Output

    • Heart Valves

    • Cardiac Conduction System

    • Sparkson's Summary: Chapter 1
  • 3

    Chapter 2: ECG Basics

    • Chapter 2 Cover Art

    • Graphing the ECG

    • Introduction to Waves

    • NAME THAT WAVE!

    • NTW! Q1

    • NTW! A1

    • NTW! Q2

    • NTW! A2

    • QRS Complex Variations

    • NTW! Q&A 3

    • NTW! Finale

    • The ECG Waves

    • PR Interval & Segment

    • ST Segment

    • QT Interval

    • Conduction in Relation to the ECG

    • Introduction to Normal Values

    • Page #35

    • Sparkson's Summary: Chapter 2
  • 4

    Chapter 3: Recording a 12-Lead ECG

    • Chapter 3 Cover Art

    • Electrodes

    • Leads

    • Wave Visualization

    • Planes

    • The Bipolar Limb Leads (I, II, III)

    • Einthoven’s Triangle

    • The Augmented Limb Leads (aVR, aVL, aVF)

    • The Precordial Leads (V1-V6)

    • Generating the Precordial Leads

    • Anatomy of the Electrocardiogram

    • ECG Limitations

    • History and Physical

    • Approach to ECG Interpretation

    • Sparkson's Summary: Chapter 3
  • 5

    Chapter 4: Rate and Rhythm

    • Chapter 4 Cover Art

    • Rate

    • SA Node

    • The Autonomic Nervous System

    • Sinus Tachycardia and Bradycardia

    • Ectopic Foci

    • Levels of Ectopic Foci

    • The Counting Method

    • Practice Counting

    • Precise Counting

    • The 6-second Method

    • The 1500 Method

    • Normal Heart Rates in Children

    • Rhythm

    • The Caliper

    • Sparkson's Summary: Chapter 4
  • 6

    Chapter 5: Axis

    • Chapter 5 Cover Art

    • What’s an Axis?

    • Mean QRS Vector

    • The Hexaxial Reference System

    • The Rule of Thumbs

    • Normal Axis

    • Left Axis Deviation

    • Right Axis Deviation

    • Extreme Axis

    • Rule of Thumbs Review

    • The Equiphasic Approach

    • Equiphasic Approach Example

    • Causes of Axis Deviation

    • Effect of Positional Anomalies on Axis

    • Dextrocardia

    • Sparkson's Summary: Chapter 5
  • 7

    Chapter 6: Hypertrophy and Enlargement

    • Chapter 6 Cover Art

    • Hypertrophy

    • Enlargement

    • Effect on Waves

    • The P wave and Atrial Enlargement

    • Right Atrial Enlargement

    • Left Atrial Enlargement

    • R Wave Progression

    • Right Ventricular Hypertrophy

    • Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

    • Repolarization Abnormalities

    • Echocardiography

    • Sparkson's Summary: Chapter 6
  • 8

    Chapter 7: Arrhythmias

    • Chapter 7 Cover Art

    • Introduction to Arrhythmias

    • SHADE

    • Ambulatory ECG Monitoring

    • Reentry

    • ACT I: ARRHYTHMIAS OF THE SA NODE

    • Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia

    • Sinus Bradycardia

    • Sinus Tachycardia

    • Sinus Pause and Arrest

    • Sinoatrial Exit Block

    • Sick Sinus Syndrome

    • ACT II: SUPRAVENTRICULAR ARRHYTHMIAS

    • Premature Atrial Complexes (PACs)

    • Characterizing PACs

    • Aberrancy

    • Junctional Premature Beats

    • Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia

    • Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia with Block

    • Wandering Atrial Pacemaker

    • Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia

    • Atrial Flutter

    • Atrial Fibrillation

    • AV Nodal Reentry Tachycardia

    • AV Reciprocating Tachycardia

    • Narrow Complex Tachycardia

    • Supraventricular tachycardia

    • Vagal Maneuvers

    • ACT III: VENTRICULAR ARRHYTHMIAS

    • Premature Ventricular Complexes

    • PVC vs. Ashman Phenomenon

    • Accelerated Idioventricular Rhythm

    • Interlude

    • Malignant Ventricular Arrhythmias

    • Ventricular Tachycardia

    • Features of VT

    • Torsades De Pointes

    • Ventricular Fibrillation

    • Defibrillation

    • Electrophysiology Studies

    • Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator

    • Sparkson's Summary: Chapter 7
  • 9

    Chapter 8: Preexcitation and Blocks

    • Chapter 8 Cover Art

    • Preexcitation Syndromes

    • Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome

    • Lown-Ganong-Levine Syndrome

    • Cardiac Conduction Map

    • Blocks

    • First-degree AV Block

    • Second-degree AV Blocks

    • Mobitz Type I Second-degree AV Block (Wenckebach)

    • Mobitz Type II Second-degree AV Block

    • Distinguishing 2:1 Wenckebach from 2:1 Mobitz Type II

    • Third-degree AV Block

    • Escape

    • Bundle Branch Blocks

    • Right Bundle Branch Block

    • Left Bundle Branch Block

    • Incomplete Bundle Branch Block

    • Causes of Bundle Branch Block and NICD

    • Transient Bundle Branch Block

    • Idiopathic Bundle Branch Block

    • Fascicle Anatomy

    • Introduction to Fascicular Blocks

    • LAF vs. LPF: What’s the Difference?

    • Normal Conduction Through the Fascicles

    • Left Anterior Fascicular Block

    • Left Posterior Fascicular Block

    • Bifascicular Block

    • Trifascicular Block

    • Incomplete Trifascicular Block

    • Introduction to Pacemakers

    • Capture

    • Pacemaker Nomenclature

    • Pacemaker Modes

    • PACEMAKER MALFUNCTION!

    • Biventricular Pacemaker

    • Sparkson's Summary: Chapter 8
  • 10

    Chapter 9: Myocardial Infarction (and Friends)

    • Chapter 9 Cover Art

    • The lad named "Lad"

    • Coronary Thrombosis

    • Ischemia, Injury, and Infarction

    • Layers of the Heart

    • Acute Coronary Syndrome

    • ECG Manifestations of ACS

    • Stress Testing

    • Measuring ST Segment Deviation

    • ECG Changes Following an Acute MI

    • Septal Q Waves

    • Q Waves and Infarction

    • Poor R wave Progression

    • Summary of ECG Changes Following an Acute MI

    • Localizing the Infarct

    • Coronary Dominance

    • Anterior Wall Infarction

    • ECG: Anteroseptal Myocardial Infarction

    • De Winter's Sign

    • Wellens' Syndrome

    • Lateral Wall Infarction

    • ECG: Lateral Myocardial Infarction

    • Inferior Wall Infarction

    • ECG: Inferior Myocardial Infarction

    • Posterior Wall Infarction

    • Right Ventricular (RV) Infarction

    • STEMI in the Presence of LBBB or Paced Rhythm

    • Arrhythmias and Myocardial Infarction

    • Reperfusion Therapy

    • Pericarditis

    • Brugada Syndrome

    • Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy

    • Prinzmetal Angina

    • Early Repolarization

    • Sparkson's Summary: Chapter 9
  • 11

    Chapter 10: The Wildcard Chapter

    • Chapter 10 Cover Art

    • Hyperkalemia

    • Hypokalemia

    • Calcium Disorders

    • The Effect of Drugs on Conduction

    • Class I (Sodium Channel Blockers)

    • Class II (Beta Blockers)

    • Class III (Potassium Channel Blockers)

    • Class IV (Calcium Channel Blockers) and Adenosine

    • Digoxin

    • Nitrates

    • Cocaine

    • Pulmonary Embolism

    • Emphysema

    • Hypothermia

    • Raised Intracranial Pressure

    • Pericardial Effusion

    • The Athlete's ECG

    • Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

    • Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy

    • Concealed Conduction

    • Sparkson's Summary: Chapter 10
  • 12

    Chapter 11: Case Files

    • Chapter 11 Cover Art

    • Method

    • Quick Reference: Normal ECG Values

    • Case 1

    • Case 1 Interpretation and Discussion

    • Case 2

    • Case 2 Interpretation and Discussion

    • Case 3

    • Case 3 Interpretation and Discussion

    • Case 4

    • Case 4 Interpretation and Discussion

    • Case 5

    • Case 5 Interpretation and Discussion

    • Case 6

    • Case 6 Interpretation and Discussion

    • Case 7

    • Case 7 Interpretation and Discussion

    • Case 8

    • Case 8 Interpretation and Discussion

    • Case 9

    • Case 9 Interpretation and Discussion

    • Case 10

    • Case 10 Interpretation and Discussion

    • Case 11

    • Case 11 Interpretation and Discussion
  • 13

    Epilogue

    • Finale Cover Art

    • The End?