Comparison

Coexisting Diseases & Surgery vs ECGRef

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Coexisting Diseases & Surgery

This medical reference app provides detailed information on common and rare diseases, including their description, etiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. It also offers guidance on managing surgical patients with coexisting conditions.

Highlights
  • Disease descriptions
  • Etiology and onset
  • Diagnosis and pathophysiology
  • Treatment and prognosis
  • Perioperative management
  • Disease-related surgical concerns
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

The Vargo Coexisting Diseases & Surgery App is a clinician-built resource designed to help anesthesia providers tailor anesthetic management to the patient’s underlying comorbidities and surgical considerations. Built from years of clinical experience, the app focuses on how coexisting diseases directly impact perioperative decision-making. Organized by major clinical systems, the app allows for rapid access to condition-specific anesthesia considerations—whether preparing for a case or managing complex patients in active clinical settings. The app is structured by major organ systems and disease categories, providing focused anesthesia guidance across a wide range of conditions: - Brain / Neuro Neurologic conditions and their impact on anesthesia management - Cardiac Hemodynamic considerations, cardiac pathology, and perioperative risk - Endocrine Diabetes, adrenal disorders, thyroid disease, and metabolic implications - Gastrointestinal GI disorders affecting anesthesia planning and intraoperative care - Hematologic Disorders Coagulopathies, anemia, and blood management considerations - Liver & Biliary Tract Hepatic dysfunction and implications for drug metabolism and coagulation - Pediatrics & OB/GYN Specialized considerations for pediatric and obstetric populations - Pulmonary Respiratory disease management and ventilation strategies - Renal Diseases Kidney dysfunction and fluid, electrolyte, and drug considerations - Congenital Heart Defects Structural cardiac conditions and tailored anesthesia approaches The app is built to provide clear, focused guidance that directly applies to clinical practice: Organized for rapid navigation by system and condition Emphasis on how disease states influence anesthetic planning Practical, case-driven considerations rather than general summaries This is a tool designed to help providers quickly answer the question: “How does this patient’s condition change my anesthetic plan?” The Vargo Coexisting Diseases & Surgery App is developed by experienced anesthesia providers who specialize in managing complex cases across a wide range of disease states. The content reflects real clinical decision-making and is continuously refined to remain relevant and practical. All future updates and additions are included with a one-time purchase. There are no subscriptions or recurring fees. Designed for every level of the anesthesia care team. Not just what to do—but the physiology driving every decision. Disclaimer: The Vargo Anesthesia Apps are intended for educational and clinical reference purposes only. These applications are designed to support clinical decision-making by trained healthcare professionals and are not a substitute for independent medical judgment, institutional policies, or current standards of care. Users are responsible for independently verifying all information, including drug dosages, calculations, and patient-specific considerations.

About

ECGRef

An educational reference for interpreting electrocardiograms, this app covers electrophysiology, rhythm recognition, and common patterns. It aims to assist clinicians and students in accurate bedside ECG analysis.

Highlights
  • Electrophysiology concepts
  • Rhythm recognition
  • Clinically relevant patterns
  • Bedside ECG analysis support
  • Educational reference
Features
Read full description

ECG interpretation, organized for the bedside. ECGRef is a comprehensive electrocardiogram reference for physicians, nurses, advanced practice clinicians, medical students, and other healthcare learners. Use a structured interpretation workflow, review rhythm patterns, explore ECG leads, check diagnostic criteria, and perform commonly used ECG calculations all in one focused reference. FEATURES • Step-by-step ECG interpretation workflow • Rhythm recognition and clinically relevant pattern review • Interactive frontal-plane and precordial lead explorer • Searchable library of ECG terminology and concepts • ECG calculators for heart rate, QTc, cardiac axis, ventricular hypertrophy, bundle branch block, wide-complex tachycardia, and more • Clinical risk tools • Bedside takeaways, common pitfalls, and “do not miss” findings • Favorites, global search, related content, and personal notes ECGRef connects core electrophysiology with practical ECG analysis. Whether you are learning a systematic approach, reviewing an unfamiliar rhythm, or checking a calculation, the app makes relevant information easy to find. Created by Rishi Kumar, MD, FACC (“RK.MD”), an academic adult cardiothoracic anesthesiologist and cardiovascular ICU intensivist committed to free, open-access medical education. Learn more at https://rk.md ECGRef is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It does not provide medical advice and is not a substitute for professional judgment, diagnosis, or treatment. Clinical findings and calculations must be independently verified and interpreted in the context of the individual patient. Seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical condition. Do not disregard or delay professional medical advice because of information provided by this app.

Screenshots

Coexisting Diseases & Surgery4 screens
ECGRef4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: ECGRef at Free against Coexisting Diseases & Surgery's $99.99. ECGRef also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.6) and review sentiment (100% vs 85%). Coexisting Diseases & Surgery's advantage is chart position (#79 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (13 vs 26.0). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

ECGRef is free to download; Coexisting Diseases & Surgery costs $99.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ECGRef holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 29 and 31 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 85% of Coexisting Diseases & Surgery's written reviews are positive against 100% of ECGRef's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Coexisting Diseases & Surgery ships an update monthly, ECGRef every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Coexisting Diseases & Surgery versus ECGRef: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCoexisting Diseases & SurgeryECGRef
Price$99.99Free — better
Rating4.6 (29 ratings)4.9 (31 ratings) — better
Positive reviews84.6% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2931 — better
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
Best chart rank#79 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size212 MB13 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperVargo Anesthesia IncRishi Kumar

Customer experience

Coexisting Diseases & Surgery

All ratings29 ratings
Positive86.2%
Neutral0.0%
Negative13.8%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive84.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative15.4%

ECGRef

All ratings31 ratings
Positive96.8%
Neutral3.2%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Coexisting Diseases & Surgery

No in-app purchases

None

ECGRef

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Coexisting Diseases & Surgery free?
Coexisting Diseases & Surgery costs $99.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is ECGRef free?
ECGRef is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Coexisting Diseases & Surgery or ECGRef?
ECGRef is rated higher. Coexisting Diseases & Surgery averages 4.6 out of 5 from 29 ratings, while ECGRef averages 4.9 from 31 ratings.
Do Coexisting Diseases & Surgery or ECGRef have ads?
Neither Coexisting Diseases & Surgery nor ECGRef shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Coexisting Diseases & Surgery or ECGRef?
Coexisting Diseases & Surgery ships an update monthly, and ECGRef every 3 weeks. Most recently, Coexisting Diseases & Surgery was updated on October 25, 2026 and ECGRef on October 25, 2026.

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