Malattie coronariche

With an exponential growth in the number of older adults, understanding the common disorders of the elderly patient requiring cardiac care is becoming increasingly important. Incorporating recent advances in the field, Tresch and Aronow's Cardiovascular Disease in the Elderly 6th Edition has been completely revised and updated to provide cardiologists, primary care physicians, geriatricians and other clinicians caring for the elderly a comprehensive and accessible overview of the epidemiology, pathophysiology and treatment of cardiovascular disorders in older patients.

Endothelium and Cardiovascular Diseases: Vascular Biology and Clinical Syndromes provides an in-depth examination of the role of endothelium and endothelial dysfunction in normal vascular function, and in a broad spectrum of clinical syndromes, from atherosclerosis, to cognitive disturbances and eclampsia. The endothelium is a major participant in the pathophysiology of diseases, such as atherosclerosis, diabetes and hypertension, and these entities are responsible for the largest part of cardiovascular mortality and morbidly. Over the last decade major new discoveries and concepts involving the endothelium have come to light. This important reference collects this data in an easy to reference resource. Written by known experts, and covering all aspects of endothelial function in health and disease, this reference represents an assembly of recent knowledge that is essential to both basic investigators and clinicians.

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.

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.

"Coronary Artery Disease" will be directed towards individuals with an interest in the clinical treatment of patients with unrevascularizable angina. It will explore a variety of treatment options in the setting of a sound scientific background and provide guidance and predictions for future direction in this rapidly developing field. As the only textbook of its kind, it will fulfill an unmet need and is likely to be greeted with significant enthusiasm by the practicing internal medicine, family practice and cardiovascular clinicians. It will also provide a reliable reference for clinical and basic researchers interested in this topic, as well as affected patients and their families.