Leading clinical and experimental investigators comprehensively review the chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, physiology, and pathophysiology of nitric oxide in the cardiovascular systems. These experts particularly illuminate nitric oxide biology, its cardiovascular pathophysiology, and its role in cardiovascular therapeutics. Topics also included are the development of nitric oxide donors for the treatment of myocardial ischemia and thrombosis, the development of gene therapeutic restoration of endothelial function in atherosclerosis, and the application of nitric oxide biology to...

A comprehensive review by renowned authorities of the many exciting developments occurring across the rapidly emerging field of "minimally invasive" or "minimal access" cardiac surgery. The book's distinguished panel of contributors presents the interventional cardiologists perspective, spells out the key factors for success in beating-heart coronary bypass grafting through limited incisions, and surveys the various methods of harvesting the internal thoracic artery. Other topics treated include immobilization of the surgical field, minimal access valve and congenital surgery, alternative...

A panel of expert clinical researchers offer a practical guide to the key animal models used in vascular disease. These experts examine critical issues related to vascular disease and injury in five major areas: acute mechanical injury and vascular repair, arterial thrombosis, chronic atherosclerosis, vascular disease in transplanted vessels, and vascular disease in systemic and pulmonary arterial hypertension. Up-to-date and highly practical, Vascular Disease and Injury: Preclinical Studies provides a comprehensive review that not only illuminates the current status of cardiovascular...

A master practitioner teaches, with 200 sample electrocardiograms, a simple but powerfully enlightening scientific approach to the art of EKG interpretation. Moving beyond the traditional practice of many books that stress technical skill and pattern recognition, Dr. Blake demonstrates in detail how tracings may be interpreted with consistency and confidence. By examining each tracing much like a patient in a physical examination, the author provides a full description of its findings and a detailed clinical explanation of how to interpret it. Drawing on a lifetime of teaching and practicing...

A master practitioner teaches, with 200 sample electrocardiograms, a simple but powerfully enlightening scientific approach to the art of EKG interpretation. Moving beyond the traditional practice of many books that stress technical skill and pattern recognition, Dr. Blake demonstrates in detail how tracings may be interpreted with consistency and confidence. By examining each tracing much like a patient in a physical examination, the author provides a full description of its findings and a detailed clinical explanation of how to interpret it. Drawing on a lifetime of teaching and practicing...

An illuminating and timely synthesis of methodological and clinical studies showing how medical costs can be established, how the value of clinical outcomes can be assessed, and how difficult choices can be rationally made. The methodological chapters review the conceptual and practical issues involved in estimating and interpreting health care costs, making health status and utility assessments, and statistically analyzing cost-effectiveness and clinical trials. The clinical chapters apply these methods to the major clinical areas of cardiology-primary prevention of coronary artery disease,...

An authoritative guide to clinical management of women with known or suspected coronary artery disease. Using an evidence-based approach, the authors apply the latest epidemiological findings and diagnostic tools to the evaluation of stable chest pain and acute ischemic syndromes in women, and detail the therapeutic effectiveness of various treatments in women, such as coronary revascularization, electrophysiology, exercise training and cardiac rehabilitation, and menopausal hormone therapy. Additional chapters examine the effects of gender bias in diagnosis and treatment, the role of...

James C. Fang, MD, and Gregory S. Couper, MD, have assembled a panel of prominent surgeons and cardiologists to review the latest clinical, scientific, and investigational surgical and mechanical approaches to heart failure in hopes of improving the lives of this challenging group of patients. Topics range from such traditional strategies as high-risk surgical revascularization in advanced coronary artery disease, to more novel approaches such as ventricular reconstruction and mechanical assist devices. Many chapters are contributed by the original pioneers of specific surgical techniques,...

With an ageing population due to a longer life span, peripheral arterial disease is becoming much more prevalent. The importance of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), symptomatic and asymptomatic, is that it predicts disease in other vascular beds, thus serving as a prognostic factor for myocardial infarction, stroke and mortality.

This work highlights the cardiovascular syndromes that disproportionately afflict the elderly including arrhythmias, syncope, heart failure, and ischemic heart disease. Included are the fundamental issues outside of the cardiologists domain that are essential to providing elderly care including nutritional, neurological, pharmacologic, psychiatric, ethical and rehabilitation. The book also describes the surgical management of the elderly cardiac patient including post-operative care and surgical procedures.