Edited by Thach N. Nguyen, Dai HU, Shigero Saito, Vijay Dave, Krishna Roch-Singh And Cindy L. Grines. Armonk, New York: Future Publishing Company, Inc., 2001; 425 pg, 30 figs, 144 tables; ISBN: 0-87992-493-X
The second edition of this work presents important changes with from the first edition, published in 2000 and reviewed in this section (Rev Esp Cardiol 2001;54:126).
The changes begin with the editors: Dr. K. Rocha-Singh, of the University of Illinois, and Dr. C. Grines, from Michigan, have been added. The focus and objectives of the work continue to be the same; a current review of the therapeutic management of cardiovascular complaints which surface frequently in day-to-day clinical practice. Nevertheless, both the number and length of the chapters has been increased. The 13 chapters of the first edition have grown to 18, only 9 of which appeared in the first edition. The chapters on interventional cardiology have disappeared as has the chapter on the treatment of endocarditis.
Ischemic heart disease is discussed in the first 6 chapters of the current work. The first 2 are dedicated to coronary syndromes; the first to coronary syndrome without ST-segment elevation, and the second when ST-segment elevation is present. Chapter 3 deals with carcinogenic shock in acute myocardial infarct, the information being based on Shock Registry data. Chapters 4 and 5 comment on the recommendations of the ACC/AHA regarding evaluation and care before, during, and after cardiac surgery, and of non-cardiac surgery in heart disease. Chapter 6, the last of this group, discusses the management of coronary risk factors.
Chapter 7, on arterial hypertension, has not changed from the first edition, including the errors in tables 7-5. Chapters 8 and 9 are an update on the management of cardiac insufficiency with specific attention to diastolic cardiac insufficiency, which is discussed in chapter 9.
Treatment of atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia, and syncope are discussed in chapters 10 to 13. Without a doubt implantable defibrillators deserve special attention in the approach to ventricular tachycardia.
Chapter 14 discusses management of congenital heart disease in adults, while the next 2 chapters analyze treatment of mitral insufficiency and aortic insufficiency. Of note, the chapter on aortic insufficiency was written by
Drs. M. Anguita, J.C. Castillo, J.R. Siles and F. Vallés, from Hospital Reina Sofía in Córdoba.
The last 2 chapters explain the current approach to peripheral artery disease and acute cerebrovascular accident. The structure of the chapters is uniform. They begin with a succinct overall view of the problem, and later concentrate on therapeutic management, discussing the role of new therapeutic options in these fields. The chapters end with a very practical summary. The style is clear and concise, easily comprehensible, with 5-20 tables or figures in each chapter (predominantly tables). The bibliography is adequate and up to date, and includes references from 2001.
Given the all of the above, this volume can be recommended to clinical cardiologists and cardiology residents, as Prof. E. Braunwald does in the foreword to the edition.