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...

* Provides practical knowledge and comprehensive coverage of cardiovascular disease Is written with the aim to improve the quality of care Presents contributions from nationally and internationally acknowledged experts in their respective fields Includes algorithms, case studies, and recommendations on evidence-based practice in each chapter Designed to help the busy practitioner perform assessments, initiate and guide efficacious therapy, and know when referral to a cardiologist is advisable Comprehensive Cardiovascular Medicine in the Primary Care Setting provides an authoritative, detailed...

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...

An interdisciplinary panel of pioneers and opinion leaders review the basic, preclinical, clinical, and developmental pathways to new treatment strategies, such as therapeutic angiogenesis and myogenesis. The authors take advantage of new biological understanding, novel therapeutic targets, multiple available and well-studied therapeutic strategies, and the necessary imaging techniques to measure outcomes. Their in-depth discussions cover the identification of new therapeutic targets and pathways, the investigation of transcriptional factors, master switch molecules, cell-based approaches,...

A cutting-edge review of the latest findings on the complexities of platelet function and the various means of inhibiting platelet clot formation. The authors delineate an up-to-date picture of platelet biology and describe methods for assessing platelet function, including the commonly used platelet aggregation, thromboxane production, procoagulant function, platelet function under flow, and the expression of platelet activation markers. The focus is both on the technology and the outcome of research on platelets, including the fast developing fields of proteomics and genomics and their...

Recognized scientists and clinicians from around the world discuss the most recent molecular approaches to understanding the cardiovascular system in both health and disease. The authors focus on all components of the system, including blood vessels, heart, kidneys, and the brain, and cover disease states ranging from vascular and cardiac dysfunction to stroke and hypertension. The methods described for identifying the genes that cause susceptibility to cardiovascular diseases emphasize the possibility of discovering new drug targets. Authoritative and ground-breaking, Cardiovascular Genomics...

The era of cardiac rehabilitation in the United States dates back at least thirty years, when Herman Hellerstein at Case Western Reserve, Andy Wallace at Duke and Ken Cooper in Dallas envisioned that a comprehensive lifestyle approach to the rehabi- tation and prevention of patients having had a cardiac event would potentially yield great benefits for the individual patient and the health care system. Until that time, the thought of vigorous exercise in the cardiac patient soon after an event was close to anathema. One of us (WEK) was introduced to Herman Hellerstein in Cleveland in the late...

This timely book is a road map for defining the care of acute heart failure patients in the short stay or observation unit setting. Produced in collaboration with the Society of Chest Pain Centers, this book provides an understanding of the diverse medical needs and solutions, administrative processes, and regulatory issues necessary for successful management. In an environment of increasing financial consciousness, medical practice is changing drastically. Short stay care is premier among the new specialties that cater to the complex balance of optimizing patient outcomes while minimizing...

Percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) closure is an emerging technology for thromboembolic prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The first human implantation of an LAA device occurred in 2001, and since then four devices have received CE mark approval. These devices are being widely used in Europe for LAA closure in patients who are poor candidates for long-term oral anticoagulation. In the US, the WATCHMAN device (Boston Scientific) is anticipated to receive FDA approval imminently for AF patients who are warfarin-eligible. This approval is projected to significantly...