Cardiologia

Echocardiography is one of the most useful and powerful diagnostic tools in the assessment of cardiac function. It remains a rapidly expanding modality, with new techniques constantly developing and maturing. Building on the success of the original work, the second edition of Making Sense of Echocardiography: A Hands-on Guide provides a timely, accessible overview for those learning echocardiography for the first time as well as an accessible handbook that experienced sonographers can refer to throughout their careers. The strong clinical focus and concentration on real-life scenarios make this book especially relevant in day-to-day practice. New chapters in this edition discuss myocardial mechanics and speckle tracking and 3D echo. The book also contains significantly expanded and updated material on: Contrast echocardiography Tissue Doppler imaging Intravascular ultrasound and epicardial echocardiography The left ventricle and its systolic function Left ventricular diastolic function The left atrium Supplying the latest guidelines and evidence-based clinical advice, this edition is also supplemented with new illustrations and an updated website. Fully updated key references for further reading are provided for each chapter. This accessible yet comprehensive text will ensure readers are up to date on the essentials in the field and can confidently integrate new procedures into their everyday practice.

From basic concepts to state-of-the-art techniques, Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography: A Companion to Kaplan's Cardiac Anesthesia helps you master everything you need to know to effectively diagnose and monitor your cardiothoracic surgery patients. Comprehensive coverage and unsurpassed visual guidance make this companion to Kaplan's Cardiac Anesthesia a must for anesthesiologists, surgeons, and nurse anesthetists who need to be proficient in anesthesia care.

This book traces the development of the basic concepts in cardiovascular physiology in the light of the accumulated experimental and clinical evidence and, rather than making the findings fit the standard pressure-propulsion mold, let the phenomena 'speak for themselves'. It starts by considering the early embryonic circulation, where blood passes through the valveless tube heart at a rate that surpasses the contractions of its walls, suggesting that the blood is not propelled by the heart, but possesses its own motive force, tightly coupled to the metabolic demands of the tissues. Rather than being an organ of propulsion, the heart, on the contrary, serves as a damming-up organ, generating pressure by rhythmically impeding the flow of blood. The validity of this model is then confirmed by comparing the key developmental stages of the cardiovascular system in the invertebrates, the insects and across the vertebrate taxa. The salient morphological and histological features of the myocardium are reviewed with particular reference to the vortex. The complex, energy-dissipating intracardiac flow-patterns likewise suggest that the heart functions as an organ of impedance, whose energy consumption closely matches the generated pressure, but not its throughput. Attention is then turned to the regulation of cardiac output and to the arguments advanced by proponents of the 'left ventricular' and of the 'venous return' models of circulation. Hyperdynamic states occurring in arteriovenous fistulas and congenital heart defects, where communication exists between the systemic and pulmonary circuits at the level of atria or the ventricles, demonstrate that, once the heart is unable to impede the flow of blood, reactive changes occur in the pulmonary and systemic circulations, leading to pulmonary hypertension and Eisenmenger syndrome. Finally, the key points of the nook are summarized in the context of blood as a 'liquid organ' with autonomous movement.

A growing number of people suffer from so-called resistant hypertension, that is to say, high blood pressure that does not respond to treatment. This disorder is of great current interest and importance for public health, being a common clinical problem faced by both primary care clinicians and specialists. Furthermore, as older age and obesity are among the strongest risk factors for uncontrolled hypertension, the incidence of resistant hypertension will likely increase as the population becomes more elderly and heavier. While the prognosis of resistant hypertension is unknown, cardiovascular risk is undoubtedly increased since patients often have a history of long-standing, severe hypertension complicated by multiple other cardiovascular risk factors. This volume, compiled by a panel of world-renowned experts, offers a comprehensive exploration of resistant hypertension, covering epidemiology, complex diagnostic aspects, and the therapeutic options currently available, with due attention to overall treatment strategies. New therapeutic agents and procedures, such as renal denervation and baroreceptor stimulation, are also described. In addition, the book addresses the economic aspects of resistant hypertension and the role of the different professional figures, from GPs to hypertension specialists, in dealing with it.

The availability and diffusion of high-performance technologies has strengthened the role of CT angiography and MR angiography as simple and reliable techniques for the characterization and treatment planning of the main diseases of the cardiocirculatory system, an understanding of which has become essential for all radiologists. The aim of this book is to provide technical indications which are both concise and thorough regarding the main methods and examination techniques for performing high-quality CT angiography and MR angiography studies in a broad range of clinical settings. This is supported by a large number of cases and is rich with advice on image interpretation and practical suggestions for the evaluation and reporting of the examinations. The text will therefore also aim to provide a comparison of the advantages and limitations of the two techniques in various diseases and vascular regions, thus offering indications to both the expert and trainee radiologist.

Clinically oriented to help aid understanding and caring for patients with pacemakers, ICDs and CRT systems, this book presents a logical progression from descriptions of device indications to selection of hardware and implementation. Updated to include information on new technology and clinical trials, over 750 illustrations are featured.