ECG Corner – Acknowledgements

Over the past 25 years I have interpreted a huge number of electrocardiograms for patients I have been privileged to treat. I have archived a number of these tracings and will use this platform to share some of them with young doctors.

I would like to thank my junior colleagues and medical students who have spent many hours with me in cardiology clinics, ward rounds and tutorials.  Your searching questions have inspired me to compile this collection.

I would also like to acknowledge my friend and colleague – Professor Charles Gaymes -Pediatric Electrophysiologist (Mississippi- USA) for his unwavering enthusiasm in providing prompt second opinions on challenging electrocardiograms.

Although some of the ECG tracings are timeworn and have technical flaws they have been included as they provide excellent teaching opportunities. In addition, ECG tracings of uncorrected congenital heart lesions in older patients, now seldom seen, effectively demonstrate the electrocardiological abnormalities associated with these conditions.

New technologies have revolutionized diagnostic evaluation of patients with cardiovascular disease, however, the ECG is still the most important test for interpretation of cardiac rhythm and conduction system abnormalities. It is of great value in the evaluation of pericarditis and myocardial ischemia. It is also used to monitor drug treatment (specifically antiarrhythmic therapy) and to detect metabolic disturbances.

It is my hope that this section will help young doctors identify ECG changes associated with paediatric cardiac conditions.