One of the most time-consuming tasks in clinical medicine is seeking the opinion of specialist colleagues. There is pressure not only to make referrals appropriate, but also to summarize the case in the language of the specialist. Cardiology Explained is an essential tool in this task. It explains the basic physiology and pathophysiologic mechanisms of cardiovascular disease in a straightforward and diagrammatic manner, gives guidelines as to when referral is appropriate, and, uniquely, explains what the specialist is likely to do. This facilitates an understanding of the specialty not available from standard textbooks. With wide appeal, this book is ideal for any hospital doctor, generalist, or even senior medical student who may need a cardiology opinion; or for that matter, anyone who simply wants some of cardiology - explained.

Contents

• Foreword
• Preface
• Abbreviations
• Chapter 1. Cardiac arrest
• Chapter 2. Cardiovascular examination
  • General inspection
  • Taking the pulse
  • Blood pressure
  • Jugular venous pressure
  • Palpation
  • Auscultation
  • Summary
  • Further reading
• Chapter 3. Conquering the ECG
  • Electrocardiography
  • Depolarization of the heart
  • The ECG trace
  • ECG abnormalities
  • Further reading
• Chapter 4. Understanding the echocardiogram
  • Background
  • Imaging modes
  • Transesophageal echocardiography
  • Contrast echocardiography
  • Applications
  • Further reading
• Chapter 5. Coronary artery disease
  • Background
  • Assessment
  • Generalist management
  • Refer with confidence
  • Specialist management
  • Refer with confidence
  • Cardiac rehabilitation
  • Further reading
• Chapter 6. Hypertension
  • Background
  • Definition
  • Causes
  • Assessment
  • Management
  • Generalist management
  • Refer with confidence
  • Further reading
• Chapter 7. Heart failure
  • Background
  • Pathophysiology
  • Clinical history and examination
  • Investigations
  • Management: acute heart failure
  • Management: cardiogenic shock
  • Management: chronic heart failure
  • Nonpharmacotherapies
  • Palliative care
  • Further reading
• Chapter 8. Arrhythmia
  • Introduction
  • Bradycardia
  • Bundle branch block
  • Tachyarrhythmia
  • Pacemakers
  • Implantable cardioverter defibrillators
  • Electrophysiological studies
  • Drugs in arrhythmia
  • Further reading
• Chapter 9. Valve disease
  • The asymptomatic murmur
  • Aortic stenosis
  • Aortic regurgitation
  • Mitral stenosis
  • Mitral regurgitation
  • Mitral valve prolapse
  • Tricuspid valve disease
  • Pulmonary valve disease
  • Valve disease in pregnancy
  • Further reading
• Chapter 10. Infective endocarditis
  • Background
  • Diagnosis
  • Intravenous drug abuse
  • Etiology
  • Pathogenesis
  • Refer with confidence
  • Specialist management
  • Prognosis
  • Prophylaxis
  • Further reading
• Chapter 11. Cardiomyopathy
  • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
  • Dilated cardiomyopathy
  • Restrictive cardiomyopathy
  • Further reading
• Chapter 12. Aneurysm and dissection of the aorta
  • Aortic aneurysm
  • Aortic dissection
  • Further reading
• Chapter 13. Pericardial disease
  • Pericarditis
  • Pericardial effusion and tamponade
  • Constrictive pericarditis
• Chapter 14. Adult congenital heart disease
  • Recognizing adult congenital heart disease
  • Ventricular septal defect
  • Recognizing VSD
  • Atrial septal defect
  • Pulmonary valve stenosis
  • Patent ductus arteriosus
  • Fallot's tetralogy
  • Transposition of the great arteries
  • Ebstein's anomaly
  • Further reading

While every effort is made by the publisher to see that no inaccurate or misleading data, opinions, or statements appear in this book, they wish to make it clear that the material contained in the publication represents a summary of the independent evaluations and opinions of the authors. As a consequence, the authors, publisher, and any sponsoring company accept no responsibility for the consequences of any inaccurate or misleading data or statements. Neither do they endorse the content of the publication or the use of any drug or device in a way that lies outside its current licensed application in any territority.