Cardiologia

Essential hypertension (EH) is the most common type of high blood pressure and is responsible for much death and serious illness, which has been the reason for the huge research effort to determine its causes. However, countless scientific articles still keep proclaiming that "the causes of essential hypertension remain unknown." In view of the number of publications that descend on the hypertension specialist like a waterfall, such proclamations seem to overlook the considerable amount of knowledge that we already have about the etiology of EH. The problem may be a lack of synthesis rather than a lack of information. This book provides a unique synthesis of the pathophysiology of essential hypertension (EH), which is limited through the brain and is critically dependent on both genetic and environmental factors such as stress, high salt intake and obesity. Korner analyses the mechanisms by which the various factors raise blood pressure and the pathophysiology of EH compared with that in renal hypertension and in some of the rat models of genetic hypertension. In some individuals stress-induced vasoconstriction enhances the brain's responsiveness to salt, giving rise to stress-and-salt-related EH. In others, stress-induced EH promotes eating, causing hypertensive obesity. Improving lifestyle through regular exercise and reduction of salt and calorie intake directly antagonises the environmental causes of EH, and has implications for prevenion and treatment.

This book covers all aspects (biological, pathological, genetic, clinical and therapeutical) of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia, a recent cardiomyopathy which represents a very high risk of sudden death in the young and in the athletes. This monograph gathers the results of a five-year research program on ARVC/D which allowed the discovery of 5 disease-causing genes, thus opening new avenues for the early identification of affected patients.

Transoesophageal Echocardiography (TOE/TEE) in cardiac patients is now almost routine. Its use in cardiac monitoring has also extended to include critically ill patients for non-cardiac surgery and the intensive care setting. Specific accreditation is required prior to practice of TOE/TEE involving a written examination and a documented logbook of experience. This 2007 book was specifically designed to help candidates pass the written exam and was structured around the syllabus. Providing a summary of all relevant information, this is an invaluable study aid. Lists of further reading material are provided with every topic, including guidelines and safety, cardiomyopathies, heart disease, haemodynamic calculations and many more. Each chapter ends with a series of exam-style questions for self-assessment. An extremely useful book for trainee anaesthetists, intensivists, trainee cardiologists and cardiac surgeons.

"The work focuses on a phenomenon that is occurring with increasing frequency in the practice of cardiac surgery, namely the need to address cardiac surgical issues in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD)...this book will serve to stimulate trials of competing and complementary therapies so that the outcomes for these unfortunate patients can be improved." -- from the Foreword by R. Morton Boltman, III, MD Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School Chief, Cardiac Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston Cardiovascular disease remains the most common cause of death for patients with chronic renal failure, and although cardiac surgery can frequently relieve symptoms and prolong survival, it is still associated with significant complications. This concise volume draws on the expertise of leading specialists to help practitioners and trainees understand the full range of current treatment options and their outcomes. Noted authorities such as Charles A. Herzog and William Cohn share both their insights and their technical tips, developed through years of experience. Cardiac Surgery in Chronic Renal Failure includes chapters on: * the impact of ESRD in society * percutaneous coronary revascularization in ESRD patients * cardiopulmonary bypass in patients with chronic renal failure * coronary bypass grafting in ESRD patients requiring dialysis * surgical treatment of valvular heart disease in ESRD patients * surgical evaluation and treatment of uremic pericarditis Practicing nephrologists and cardiologists, as well as residents and fellows, will find this important volume serves as a guide to achieving the best possible outcomes and a call to reduce the impact of cardiovascular disease in ESRD.

This outstanding new atlas makes it easy to interpret intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography findings for both healthy and diseased patients. A multidisciplinary team uses clinical case studies to explore the characteristic intraoperative TEE findings for every type of cardiac abnormality, along with correlative imaging and pathology findings. Videos on the accompanying DVD demonstrate echocardiograms, cardiac catheterizations, and surgical procedures. The result is an outstanding way makes sure you are obtaining the maximum diagnostic benefit from this versatile modality.

More than 1 million Americans have congenital heart defects, according to the Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA). Congenital heart defects (CHD) occur when the heart or blood vessels near the heart don't develop normally before birth. Most specialists don't know why they occur, but they're always researching. Keep up with advances in this issue Guest Edited by Gary D. Webb, MD, FRCP(C), FACC, from the Philadelphia Adult Congenital Heart Center at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. The chapters planned include syndromes encountered in adult CHD patients, sudden death in perspective in ACHD, pregnancy and congenital heart disease and more.