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...

In 1962, Thomas Kuhne coined the term paradigm shift while arguing that human knowledge advances by quantum leaps with interspersed smaller steps. Preparation for the major advance is generally not a concerted effort by thought leaders. Rather, a few (or one) visionaries gain insights into a process and are able to definitely demonstrate the accuracy of their worldview. Often, the epiphany does not occur during the intellectual lifetime of the discoverers. Medicine has had numerous such paradigm shifts including the compelling reworking of Galen s concepts of the body. Of note, the scientific...

In the last two decades, tremendous strides in the field of mechanical support have extended the lives of countless sufferers of congestive heart failure, who total close to 1% of the US population. This technology has saved the lives of patients with acute heart failure due to heart attacks, dilated cardiomyopathies and post-cardiotomy shock and sustained patients with end stage congestive heart failure until a precious donor organ has become available for transplantation. In an attempt to address the growing imbalance between demand and supply of donor hearts, and armed with great hope and...

In 1962, Thomas Kuhne coined the term paradigm shift while arguing that human knowledge advances by quantum leaps with interspersed smaller steps. Preparation for the major advance is generally not a concerted effort by thought leaders. Rather, a few (or one) visionaries gain insights into a process and are able to definitely demonstrate the accuracy of their worldview. Often, the epiphany does not occur during the intellectual lifetime of the discoverers. Medicine has had numerous such paradigm shifts including the compelling reworking of Galen s concepts of the body. Of note, the scientific...