Myocardial-Infarction Books

I recommend this book to my patients all the time. My own copy is almost completely highlighted. Dr. Frank gives such insight into his own patient experience and from a medical sociologist's perspective!

Abby Caplin, MD, MA, San Francisco, CA

Arthur W. Frank's book, At the Will of the Body: Reflections on Illness, is a pilgrimage through the author's struggle with a heart attack and cancer. His experiences, insights, treatments, along with his wife's support are by no means examples of the average person's struggle with illnesses. Frank, a college professor, comes across as a self-centered elitest and as a patient who was critical of his health care. Upon reflection, I am amazed by his wife's dedication to him as he progressed through his illnesses, especially cancer.

For anyone who is ill or anyone who is accompanying someone else on this journey, this book is invaluable. Richly illuminating and enlightening about what it means to be facing a life threatening illness. It is enormously helpful and reassuring to read of someone facing this head on without the current and dismissive "just have a positive attitude". it is engrossing and a life changing book. I cannot recommend highly enough.

I have helped train family practice physicians and I have used the play "W;T" to try and sensitize young physicians to the viewpoint of the patient. I was asked to read this book for a graduate course in spirituality and healing called: Suffering and Hope. I found it even better than "W;T" for training purposes. I think it should be required reading for all medical students and residents. Physicians are much more than just technicians trained to "fix" bodies. The viewpoint of the author was most helpful in suggesting ways to approach a very difficult situation. I have ordered copies for friends who are suffering from cancer that it may help them on their journey!

This was one of the best books I have read in the course of my dissertation work. I'd say it is a must read for anyone in the health care profession, as well as patients battling chronic symptoms. The book is a reminder that we need to remember the PERSON who is the patient.

easy to read with a lot of exemple and cincal case this book it's very up to date. a book for guys very fond off abt the "art" of ECG interpretation, a issue not always enphatized in the modern cardiology. Of note the easy to understand ECGrgafic pattern and correlation with the culpirit lesion in coronar vessels, difficoult of interpretation of some pattern of lateral STEMI end a lot of many others of trik and pearls.
my preferred txtbook of ECG is tc chou (anyboody know something abt new Suravitz edt after the one of 2001 edt ? )and I think this book of S W SMITH are able in maintaining the philosophy of the surface ECG interpretation.

This text is an incredibly useful reference appropriate for students, nurses, and physicians at all levels of training or expertise. I skimmed the book while in residency and have reviewed it much more thoroughly since completing my training.

The utility of this reference is basically three-fold...

In the acute setting, it is perhaps the only reference that provides more than 200 case-based examples of both 'classic' and more subtle ECG findings to assist in ECG interpretation. High-yield and 'do not miss' facts and examples of both normal and abnormal findings secondary to ischemia or structural abnormalities are highlighted for quick reference. I have not found a more useful resource that can so quickly provide such valuable information.

The text also includes concise review of basic principles imperative to understanding (not just memorizing) ECG interpretation including brief reviews of anatomy, vector analysis, structural defects, and how these factors affect ECG findings. It also illustrates the dynamic nature of the ECG in the setting of ischemia by showing serial ECGs and ECG findings at varying stages of myocardial injury and recovery.

Included in each chapter is an annotated bibliography which acts as a very helpful guide to recent literature. This provides a more focused summary of relavent studies related to each chapter, which allows you to select those suitable for more in-depth review.


The only negative feedback I've heard from friends/colleagues is mild discontent with the rather 'bulleted' text presentation. Personally, I find this to be a strength of the reference as it facilitates rapid review without sacrificing content.

The bottom line is that this text is high-yield, absolutely worth $50, and is the only resource I've found that is focuses on utility in the urgent/emergent setting. I've bought many books, but I actually use this book.

This is a very comprehensive, evidence-based book which will improve your ability to interpret what that ECG is telling you about your patient. I particularly like the extensive use of actual patient cases. Definitely worth the $50.

This book is a great tool to bring your interpretation of ECG in the setting of MI to the next level. If you are a medical student who wants to become competent at reading ECGs you need this book. It not only serves as a tutor, but also as a reference. It's so packed with relevant information that I can't imagine how other medical students can go without it, especially anyone considering a career in Emergency Medicine. If you understand the addage: "the more you know the more you learn," then you'll understand exactly why you need this book early in your career. This book will make you a better doctor.

The ECG in Acute MI provides a quick reference text for use in critical clinical situations in which accurate ECG interpretation will lead to more rapid recognition of appropriate candidates for reperfusion therapy, as well as a text for more detailed study of electrocardiogram interpretation. This manual is intended for all clinicians that may have to recognize and treat an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Thus, this book is for emergency department physicians, cardiologists, critical care physicians, hospitalists, internists, family practitioners, physician assistants, cardiac care nurses, residents and medical students. The text assumes a basic clinical understanding of electrocardiograms and common terminology, and focuses on outlining the essentials of ECG interpretation and how they may be used to accurately diagnose AMI, as well as to facilitate appropriate and timely reperfusion therapy. In this manual, reperfusion therapy includes the use of thrombolytics and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), including angioplasty and stent placement.
The authors utilize a well-organized format of concisely written text with key points highlighted and numerous clinical and electrocardiographic demonstrations included in every chapter in order to illustrate core concepts, and allow for quick reference. The text is divided into six sections for rapid review and easy access: General Issues of ECG Morphologies and the Diagnosis of AMI; the ECG Morphologies of AMI broken down by anatomic distribution (i.e. anterior MI, Inferior MI, etc.); Conditions that can obscure the diagnosis of AMI, including ECG pseudo-infarction patterns and AMI look-alikes; Other issues including atypical presentations, biomarkers and echocardiography as used in the reperfusion decision; and the management of AMI.
The ECG in Acute MI includes more than 300 12-lead ECGs, over 200 of which have accompanying case histories to help the reader understand the ECG in a clinical context. Many of the case examples include angiographic findings that serve to cement the reader's understanding of the ECG manifestations of anatomical disease. The chapters and representative example cases are cross-referenced extraordinarily well, facilitating review and comparison in an emergency setting. In addition, each chapter contains an extensive annotated bibliography outlining the pertinent studies previously published, including interpreted methods, findings and comments. The value of including a detailed description of the evidence based literature on which assertions in the text are made, cannot be overstated. Overall, there are more than 500 cited references for the text.
The ECG in Acute MI is well organized, thorough and an easy to use manual, both for the seasoned physician and the clinician in training. Although a manual focusing only on ECG interpretation seems a bit daunting at over 300 pages, the concise format of the text makes reading or reviewing chapters either to refresh prior knowledge or verify findings of an acute ECG in the clinical setting to confirm an interpretation entirely possible. While the reviewer had been comfortable with her ability to interpret ECG's in the acute setting, she was pleasantly surprised at just how much she learned from this manual. The authors set out to review and highlight the key aspects of ECG interpretation in order to more accurately diagnose acute MI and facilitate appropriate and timely therapy. The authors focus on educating the reader on the more sophisticated interpretation of subtle, non-diagnostic and atypical electrocardiographic findings of infarction, beyond the much more easily recognized "tombstoning" pattern of AMI. Additionally, the case based discussion utilizing serial ECG's emphasizes the dynamic nature of the electrocardiogram in acute myocardial infarction. This has led the reviewer to be much more suspicious of subtle hints on an initial ECG and the value of repeated examination in the acute clinical setting. The drawback of a text focused on subtle and atypical ECG findings is that the manual is occasionally tedious in its' detail and tiresome in its' description of differentiating characteristics of subtleties.
Although there are several excellent manuals for ECG interpretation available in the medical literature, the ECG in Acute MI is superior in its utilization of clinical correlation and evidenced based theory. The ECG in acute MI would be an excellent addition to any emergency department library, and would easily lend itself to the development of an advanced ECG interpretation module for residency curriculum. The authors have added a unique and tremendously valuable resource to the reference texts available to practicing clinicians.

I have always been fascinated by ECG's. I have looked at and/or read nearly every ECG interpretation book out there. As a paramedic by far the best and most pertinent book for prehospital interpretation is Phalen. I hate reading paramedicine books that are still teaching you how to take a pulse and blood pressure. NO @$#%!!! Like another reviewer states, Phalen deals with AMI's, their mimmickers, and nothing else. No basics. If you can't read a 3 lead. Don't buy this book. Once you can this is the one to take you through the next step to be proficient at diagnosing an AMI on a 12 lead.

As a paramedic, it has become essential to understand 12-lead ECG analysis and this book tops my list of recommendations for those needing to understand how to interpret 12-leads. Phalen does an excellent job of presenting just the material necessary to deteminine if and where infarction may be occurring. I highly recommend this book for all emergency cardiac care providers. This book would be especially helpful to those starting to use 12 lead ECG's in the pre-hospital setting.

Tim Phalen has written a excellent book for the paramedic or flight nurse. Of the dozen ECG textbooks on the market, this book is the first I recommend. The book assumes a basic knowledge of ECG rhythm interpretation, and then presents the essentials of 12 lead ECG interpretation in light of the AMI. Tim uses a straight forward approach that explains the concepts without patronizing the reader.

J. Nile Barnes
Assistant Professor EMS Programs
Austin Community Colleg

I am writing a dual review about a book I read at least 20 years ago, Martha Weinman Lear's "Heart Sounds". And I am writing it because I read Joan Didion's "A Year of Magical Thinking."

I read the book, "Heart Sounds" as a relatively new, young nurse and I was really shocked to hear someone so clearly describe what it is like to be a patient in a hospital or their family member. I would like to believe that this book helped me to be a better nurse.

Both Lear and Didion write about the experience of being with husbands who have heart disease and die, though Lear's husband's day to day disability is much more profound in the last two or so years of his life.

In both books, you learn about the American citizen's expectation of what I have come to think of as "the routine medical miracle". But for all of us there comes a time when there are no more miracles.

Didion's book suffers from the fact that she was not afforded the luxury of mourning her husband, getting almost immediately swept up in her daughter's very serious illness (and, as another review alludes to, eventual death). Lear is much more articulate about her feelings about her husband's disability and death, having more aptly processed it.

Both of these books have much to say about health care, mortality, death and mourning. Didion's description of how modern society doesn't allow mourning is very articulate, bittersweet and moving. But all in all, Didion's book reflects scattered thoughts on a tumultous year; it is perhaps a book better written in a year or two. I believe it is her incomplete processing that leaves the book feeling a little flat, a little one dimensional.

If you want a book that exposes the raw heart of mourning a partner from a loving and imperfect relationship, go to your library or find a used copy of "Heart Sounds".

The sensations described are so lucid and palpable that it is like experiencing them for yourself. This book taught me a lot about what it must be like to become suddenly ill. I use it in my teaching to medical students.

Heartsounds is, quite simply, the best nonfiction book I have read in my life. Not a phoney word, each thought a moving testimonial to the human spirit. At the same time, highly realistic.

I'm a hypnotherapist and was just reading this great book when a client told me about rushing her 46 year old husband to the emergency room -- with a heart attack! If she'd read Dr. Turneer's book beforehand, she might have saved her husband the crazed ER visit, and had a better outcome.

Dr. Turner's brain and life saving advice can help everyone!

Most deaths by heart attacks can be prevented with proper medical treatment - but all too often that treatment is not administered in time. "Recognizing and Surviving Heart Attacks and Strokes: Lifesaving Advice You Need Now" is a compilation of invaluable and vital information for those who are in serious danger of heart attack. Claiming that if one acts on the early signs of the disease, one may escape the heart attack with no long lasting damage, "Recognizing and Surviving Heart Attacks and Strokes: Lifesaving Advice You Need Now" is a must for anyone in danger and for community library health collections.

Having survived a heart attack in 1998 I must admit that had I read Recognizing and Surviving Heart Attacks and Strokes by Glen O. Turner, Tim Bade and Mark Bruce Rosin before the event I might have avoided the event altogether. As pointed out, there are significant warning signs well in advance of the attack or stroke that the informed individual can heed and avoid possible death or disability.

Recognizing and Surviving Heart Attacks is written for the layman. Organized with short chapters, the book is easily scanned for specific information. Chapters such as What is a Heart Attack; How a Heart Attack is Treated; Coronary Artery Surgery; Heart Attack Early Warning Signs, You Key to Survival; How to Recognize and Respond to the Early Warning Signs of a Stroke or "Brain Attack"; Brain Hemorrhage Strokes; and the list goes on. Many chapters are only three pages long making the information easy to get at and not overwhelming. "Doctor speak" is kept to a minimum and definitions and illustrations are provided.

If coronary artery disease runs in your family you must check this book out. Ask you library to buy it.

Peace and good luck.

Norman Cousins the legendary editor of 'Saturday Review of Books' presents in this work his philosophy of living with , and overcoming illness. Much of this has to do with the patient's attitude toward himself, his physician, the world as a whole. Cousins again and again emphasizes the importance of having a positive attitude, a hopeful and joyful outlook on life. He especially warns against the dangers of panicing and subjecting oneself to undue stress. He as a highly curious, and also very social person knows many of the major heart- researchers personally. This work also thus tells about his meeting with, and learning from them. He stresses again and again the importance of the physician caring for the patient. He speaks about how many technicians of medicine fail their patients by ignoring their 'human' side. Cousins comes across as an extremely likeable and friendly person, one whose aim is to truly help others. He is also a very good writer, and the work flows and is a pleasurable read.
The lessons he teaches here have become 'commonplace truths' though they were less so at the time of his writing. I suspect many readers of this work will come away from it with an improved sense of the proper way to deal with illness.

Heard THE HEALING HEART by Norman Cousins (author of
ANATOMY OF AN ILLNESS, one of my all-time favorite books).

In THE HEALING HEART, he describes his experience as a
heart attack survivor, and tells how to both overcome panic and
utilize the body's magnificent healing powers . . . as he notes,
"Death is not the enemy. Living in constant fear of it is."

Furthermore, "Nothing is more essential to the treatment of
serious disease than liberating the patient from panic and he notes,
"Death is not the enemy. Living in constant fear of it is."

Furthermore, "Nothing is more essential to the treatment of
serious disease than liberating the patient from panic and
foreboding." Toward that end, Cousins strongly advocates--as
he did in ANATOMNY OF AN ILLNESS--that "laughter is
an antidote to apprehension and panic."

One passage, in particular, had me chucking to myself when
I was driving home one night . . . he described finding out
about a surprise party that was going to be held for him
(to celebrate his recovery) . . . so he went to it in disguise,
completely fooling those in attendance--including his wife
and daughter . . . his thinking, "What better way to celebrate
such events than with laughter?"

William Conrad's narration greatly added to my enjoyment
of this book . . . you'll like it, as well, whether you listen to
or read it . . . please do so, particularly if you're a heart attack
survivor or know somebody who is.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the recipient of an internal cardioverter defibrillator after experiencing sudden cardiac death. This book was a wonderful help to both me and my family in dealing with the emotions of coming so close to death. I highly recommend it!

Heartmates: A Guide for the Spousef the Heart Patient takes the loved one from the acute days of the partner's health crisis through personal feelings, issues and concerns, providing support for the "heartmate" as well as the patient. Relationship as well as family concerns are major topics of this self-help book. There is a thorough index, and the book can be read in one piece or in snippets as the heartmate becomes ready to struggle with the ongoing issues of her/his psycho-social-spiritual recovery. There is frank discussion of the most difficult issues, including the return of trust and intimacy in the couple's relationship as well as feeling isolated and crazy because of the grief that seems to be inappropriate because the patient has recovered. There is, since 1995, a companion self-help tool also available, The Heartmates Meditation Journal, an interactive healing tool taking the participant through a full year of recovery concerns. Both books are readily available, although the indication is listed as "backordered."

This book places you inside the mindset of a man going thru a heart transplant surgery. This read starts out exploring his childhood, military background,marriages, in detail. A very personal reflection of a man, his life threatening sugery and how he has come to terms with the whole ordeal. A Good Read!

I was so enveloped in the authors mind that I could feel his agony and torment at the prospect of knowing someone would have to die in order for him to live. He keeps you inside of him from childhood to the succcessful transplant. I have not read a book before that made you see and feel the beauty of the landscape at the same time. A very enjoyable book, not all gloom and doom, some very funny chapters in his life.

This is by far the best-written book on this subject I have ever laid eyes on--If anyone can top this, it will be Dr. Gersh in his next book, but I do suspect that work this fine tuned will take many years to out do.

this is a must to have book.
Unfortunatelly this book is from 2002.
Today (2007) I'll recomend to buy other book from Prof Wellens (ECG in emergency decision making). Which is more up to date, with some litlle clues you will not have in this book. EG: RBBB in proximal LAD infarction.