ABSTRACT
In the chapters that follow, the pathophysiology of common cardiac emergencies is presented. To fully understand the pathogenesis of these diseases, one must first attain an appreciation for basic cardiac physiology. ECG interpretation should be studied and mastered independently after the processes in basic cardiac physiology are learned. Several excellent references for learning the essentials of 12-lead ECG interpretation are listed at the end of this chapter. Appendix II in this text provides a systematic approach for analyzing the 12-lead ECG.
