A question came up today, "should I get the Dubin or Garcia textbook (or both)"?  Here is my opinon...

 Don't get the Dubin, but DO read it.  There is a copy in the library.  It is a VERY quick read, and I bet you could have the whole thing done in a couple of hours.

The Garcia is a little different.  The book is a little more in-depth in some regards, yet more superficial in others.  It has more of the cardiac diseases that you will see in medicine.  Having said that, I bought it and I really enjoyed it (glad I bought it).  Understand, though, that I really loved cardiology.  I aced the exam, but that was mainly because I studied for it like mad (I thought it was fun).

 So, get the Garcia for reference.  Immerse yourself in this material--it is neat stuff.  This is a subject where practice really pays off.  Normally, 2-3 times through notes is more than suffficient.  It is wise to look at EKG's like a math problem, crossword puzzle, or NMR (O-CHEM!!! AHHHH!).  Repetition is the key to success.

 Longer post than I meant to write.  Good luck.  And, don't hesitate to ask a second year for help--we are doing the exact same material in medicine right now.

erik

ps read this powerpoint a day or two before your phys exam.  It is a lecture that Dr. Peterson just gave us that is an excellent overview of what you guys are studying now. 

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jterry (Registered) 2007-01-09 22:05:10 I have to vote for buying Dubin. I've gone back to him several times, and I plan on it before the Boards. Then again, Erik and I usually have equally successful, yet different ways of reaching the same goal

erikpaul (Manager) 2007-01-10 00:53:05 I just try to use the library as much as I can, as opposed to purchasing the book. Before you buy, spend 20 minutes in the library with it.

Jason Fletcher (IP:70.136.141.xxx) 2007-01-10 15:17:30 As someone who has substantial time reading and teaching EKG's I have to vote for Garcia and Holtz. Dubin is a great book, don't get me wrong, but it is more for those who have an understanding of EKG's and need a quick review. A lot of what Dubin has to say, you have to take him on faith that what he is telling you is true. Garcia and Holtz go into the physiology behind what you see and focus more on the clinic aspects and how patients will present with the EKG's shown. Their book also does a great job of splitting the rhythm strip into its various aspects and showing you the pathology and electrical representation of those aspects and then build upon them. The book is also nice and that it is designed to add upon what you have already learned. You start out reading the beginner sections and then as you grasp those concepts, you can then go back and reread the sections as someone with some exposure and then again as an expert, each adding to the foundation it set in place for you in the beginning. This is the book I learned from and it is a book that we used to teach Paramedics and EMT-I's from. So if they can take a lot from it, so can you. I came across this book from some very knowledgeable Paramedics and physicians who swear by this book. Ultimately it boils down to you as a learner. What method fits you best. Go to the Library check out both and see which one you perfer. EKG books are like reading EKG's just like the fact you get 10 cardiologists in a room, you'll get ten different interpretations of that EKG, so too will you get 10 different recommendations on which books to buy. Just find one that gives you a ton of practice/example EKG's. You will soon find that no two EKGs are the same and the more you see of them, the better you will get at reading them. Another book I might add to the list is on that is not recommended but is a great book for beginners: Arrythmia Recognition ISBN: 0763722464 Good luck.

erikpaul (IP:69.92.108.xxx) 2007-01-11 00:14:36 Jason, thanks for the reply. I agree with you, the Garcia text is more in depth. Some might find that to be a bad thing, though. Kinda like "microsoft windows for dummies" vs "C++ coding for a GUI OS" (thanks, Apple). I really enjoyed using the garcia for "test" strips (I can't wait to see how the search engines interpret that word...). Good Luck all. Jason knows what he is talking about...he is a med school master.

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