The second edition of “Manual de hemodinámica e intervencionismo cardiaco” (Manual of hemodynamics and cardiac catheterization) retains the same format as the first, which was published in 2008, but has more content. Like its predecessor, it is a large volume comprising 855 pages in 53 chapters and is the result of collaboration among an exceptionally high number of people: 230.
This edition pays particular attention to structural heart diseases, and includes the progress made in percutaneous aortic prosthesis implants, pulmonary valve and artery interventions, percutaneous closure of paravalvular leaks, and exclusion of the left atrial appendage. New imaging techniques are also mentioned, such as intracavity ultrasound and optical coherence tomography, renal artery denervation procedures, and revascularization techniques for the supraaortic trunks and lower limbs. The new material added to this edition also includes the chapters dealing with cell therapy, coronary restenosis, new hemodynamic support techniques, and the role of nursing in cardiac catheterization.
The presentation of the manual is excellent. The font size is large and the quality of the images, both figures and tables, is of the highest quality. Areas of specific interest are highlighted in light colors and, far from distracting the reader, they make it easier to understand the text.
Nonetheless, there is room for some improvement. The chapters could be ordered more in line with their subject matter (e.g. coronary restenosis could be better placed in the text) and some terms could be used more appropriately (such as the use of “normal” applied to cardiac catheterization in chapter 13, or the use of English words, such as “leaks” in “Leaks paravalvulares” or “tips and tricks”), which are used in lay language, but are less appropriate in a manual likely to become the Spanish-language reference for cardiac catheterization. Finally, although the various topics addressed differ in the importance assigned to them (as shown by the varying chapter lengths), there may be excessive dissimilarity in the number of references for chapters on similar topics. The above limitations should not, however, detract from the commendable work of Drs Javier Martín and Ignacio Cruz, whose coordination efforts have made it possible to create such a complete manual.