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Advances in cardiology. Vol. 15. Integrated medical-surgical care in acute coronary disease
BY. J. Dis. Chest (1976) 70, 141
BOOK Respiratory Diseases John Crofton and Andrew Douglas Oxford: Blackwell Scientific. 1975. xvi + 776 pp. Price: Ll8.50. This is the standard textbook of respiratory medicine in this country and in the reviewer’s opinion has no competitors, here or elsewhere. The style is personal, straightforward and reasonably dogmatic, with the most debatable points suitably referenced. This reader noted no major points of disagreement which he would debate in print, but was disappointed to find no detailed review of recent events in short-course therapy for tuberculosis and only a rather staccato account of the immunopharmacology relevant to asthma, with no mention for example of prostaglandins (on second thoughts this could be intentional, and the authors could prove to be right). Concerning respiratory function, the next edition should surely include sufficient treatment of the subject of dynamic compression to allow an understanding of the flow volume curve. Finally, it is not proper, at this level, to make an important statement about single dose trials of steroid therapy based only on the authors’ ‘preliminary results’. Reproductions of chest radiographs are sensibly not attempted, the reader being advised to consult specialist textbooks on the subject. The price is high, but will not deter serious students and practitioners of respiratory medicine from buying this essential textbook. Libraries should purchase two copies, one for reference, one for lending. K. B. SAUNDERS Advances in Cardiology. Vol. 15. Integrated Medical-Surgical Care in Acute Coronary Disease Ed. J. H. K. Vogel Basel: Karger. 1975. x+199 pp. Price: DM 103. This volume records the proceedings of the fifth conference on cardiovascular disease at Aspen, Colorado in January 1974, when the
REVIEWS subject was the management of acute coronary artery disease. The first section, on sudden death, delivers the standard coronary risk factor message, describes the birth of a coronary ambulance service in Los Angeles County and attempts to identify patients at risk from sudden death by the use of current technology. The middle sections deal with pre-infarction angina and myocardial infarction and are well worth reading. Though contributors use slightly different terminology-impending myocardial infarction, unstable angina and pre-infarction anginathere appears to be general agreement that the majority of patients with this syndrome can be managed medically in the first instance. A method of assessing infarct size and factors which modify it are described. The value of haemodynamic monitoring in ithe acute phase of myocardial infarction and current trends in medical management of this condition are discussed. The place of external counter pulsation, intra-aortic balloon pumping, coronary arteriography and coronary artery surgery is reviewed. The final section has a useful chapter on diagnosis of perioperative myocardial infarction. This book is an up-to-date guide to medical and surgical innovations in the management of patients with acute coronary artery disease and will be of value to all who want to keep abreast with developments in cardiology. SEAMUS 0. BANIM Lung Function: Assessment and Application in Medicine J. E. Cotes Oxford : Blackwell Scientific. 1975. xii + 619 pp. Price: El3 Lung function, assessment and application, is an entirely appropriate title for this book for that is what it is all about. Correlation between title and contents is established at the start of the book by two excellent chapters on terminology, basic equipment and methods. Subsequently the author describes how and why they may be used to assess and understand the
BOOK Respiratory Diseases John Crofton and Andrew Douglas Oxford: Blackwell Scientific. 1975. xvi + 776 pp. Price: Ll8.50. This is the standard textbook of respiratory medicine in this country and in the reviewer’s opinion has no competitors, here or elsewhere. The style is personal, straightforward and reasonably dogmatic, with the most debatable points suitably referenced. This reader noted no major points of disagreement which he would debate in print, but was disappointed to find no detailed review of recent events in short-course therapy for tuberculosis and only a rather staccato account of the immunopharmacology relevant to asthma, with no mention for example of prostaglandins (on second thoughts this could be intentional, and the authors could prove to be right). Concerning respiratory function, the next edition should surely include sufficient treatment of the subject of dynamic compression to allow an understanding of the flow volume curve. Finally, it is not proper, at this level, to make an important statement about single dose trials of steroid therapy based only on the authors’ ‘preliminary results’. Reproductions of chest radiographs are sensibly not attempted, the reader being advised to consult specialist textbooks on the subject. The price is high, but will not deter serious students and practitioners of respiratory medicine from buying this essential textbook. Libraries should purchase two copies, one for reference, one for lending. K. B. SAUNDERS Advances in Cardiology. Vol. 15. Integrated Medical-Surgical Care in Acute Coronary Disease Ed. J. H. K. Vogel Basel: Karger. 1975. x+199 pp. Price: DM 103. This volume records the proceedings of the fifth conference on cardiovascular disease at Aspen, Colorado in January 1974, when the
REVIEWS subject was the management of acute coronary artery disease. The first section, on sudden death, delivers the standard coronary risk factor message, describes the birth of a coronary ambulance service in Los Angeles County and attempts to identify patients at risk from sudden death by the use of current technology. The middle sections deal with pre-infarction angina and myocardial infarction and are well worth reading. Though contributors use slightly different terminology-impending myocardial infarction, unstable angina and pre-infarction anginathere appears to be general agreement that the majority of patients with this syndrome can be managed medically in the first instance. A method of assessing infarct size and factors which modify it are described. The value of haemodynamic monitoring in ithe acute phase of myocardial infarction and current trends in medical management of this condition are discussed. The place of external counter pulsation, intra-aortic balloon pumping, coronary arteriography and coronary artery surgery is reviewed. The final section has a useful chapter on diagnosis of perioperative myocardial infarction. This book is an up-to-date guide to medical and surgical innovations in the management of patients with acute coronary artery disease and will be of value to all who want to keep abreast with developments in cardiology. SEAMUS 0. BANIM Lung Function: Assessment and Application in Medicine J. E. Cotes Oxford : Blackwell Scientific. 1975. xii + 619 pp. Price: El3 Lung function, assessment and application, is an entirely appropriate title for this book for that is what it is all about. Correlation between title and contents is established at the start of the book by two excellent chapters on terminology, basic equipment and methods. Subsequently the author describes how and why they may be used to assess and understand the