Dynamic Practical Electrocardiography: A Virtual Clinic and Classroom by Galen S Wagner, Robert A Waugh, William T Lawson Jr. Lippincott-Williams and Wilkins, £42. ISBN: 0 683 30380 3. Rating: ★★★
This CD Rom is a timely teaching resource. It is truly multimedia, with animation, text, and search capabilities. Its content is suitable for both beginners in electrocardiography as well as those seeking to refresh their electrocardiographic reading skills.
The strength of this program lies in its excellent graphics and electrocardiographic reproductions. It reviews the basics and essentials of interpreting electrocardiograms and explains the underlying cellular physiology in simple terms. One exceptional feature is the on-screen calliper, which users can manipulate with a mouse click. Within the program are interactive exercises and multiple choice questions, which allow users to assess their strengths and weaknesses quickly and efficiently.
The CD covers a wide range of topics, including common problems like left ventricular hypertrophy, bundle branch block, myocardial infarction, and atrial fibrillation. Within the case studies, users are asked questions pertinent to the case and the presented electrocardiogram. Feedback is provided in the “virtual clinic.” There is also an interactive exercise in which users are asked to locate important anatomical structures relating to the cardiac conduction system.
Unfortunately, Dynamic Practical Electrocardiography is not a particularly challenging teaching aid, so advanced clinicians and cardiologists will probably find it too basic. But for those starting to learn about electrocardiography or those who teach electrocardiographic reading, this is an exceptionally well thought out program with high quality images and tracings.