Circulatory system dynamics

~e~~~oweec~~ereview. Wiiliams

By

Gerald C. Timmis, & Wilkins Company,

M.D., Balti227 pages.

Price $10.95. This is a review of the “highlights” of reports that appeared in American cardiovascular journals for the past 7 years This brief review of selected papers include such aspects of heart diseases as ischemic heart disease, valvular heart disease. arrhythmias, conduction defects, effects of therapy and drugs, acromegaly, amyloidosis, asymmetric septal hypertrophy, athletic heart, cardiomyopathy, and others. The review is remarkably thorough and extensive for a book of only 227 pages. The review, like annual reviews in other fields, is useful to many readers, but unlike the annual reviews, this one includes selected publications over the past 7 years. Each statement is well documented to facilitate a more extensive consideration of aspects of cardiovascular problems that might interest the reader. As with most reviews of this type, this review presents the conclusions and recommendations of the authors of publications without critical analysis of the respective studies. emus

Thromboembolism:

revention

and

Treatment.

Edited by John L. Madden, M.D., and Michael Hume, M.D., New York, 1976, Appleton-Century-Crofts, Inc., 240 pages. This small succinct book of 240 pages is concerned with an important problem involving all branches of medicine. All physicians are constantly concerned about thromboembolism in all seriously ill patients. The many contributors have reviewed the problems effectively and briefly for all physicians The chapters include discussions of risk factors, prevention, early detection of venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, hemodynamic phenomena, diagnosis, use of the pneumatic venous pump, and prophylaxis. Each chapter is appended with a good selection of references., The illustrations are good. This is a good and useful singie source on an important clinical state. The papers were presented at a symposium in 1976 in New York City. ~~per~e~§~Q~: eterminants, ~~~~~~c~~~~~s 8% ~~~e~w~~~~~~~ Edited by Gaddo Qnesti and Christian R. Klimt, New York, 1979, Grune & Stratton, Inc., 462 pages. Price $39.50. This is the Fifth Hahnemann International Symposium on Hypertension, an important and common illness of man. The many presentations are grouped into five parts, namely, determinants, complications, end organ damage, benefit and risk of intervention, and therapeutic and preventive trials and community progrzms. It is impossible in a brief review to consider each of the many presentations adequately. In general, the presentations are good and the discussions up to date. The book should interest internists and general practitioners. The book fails to date clearly the time of the symposium. The great number of pubiications and symposia on hypertension in recent years makes it unavoidable to repeat wbat has been said many times and, therefore, each adds little new to the held. Let us hope the next symposium will be limited to only what is new since this fifth one. Treatment

of Acute

casedial

Isckemia:

An

Edited by Lawrence MD., Mount Kisco, N. Y., 1979, Futura Publishing 230 pages. Price $23.60. icall

Surgical

Appro

integrated

II. Cohn, Company,

This book by a surgeon of the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, along with contributors from the same hospital representing

cardiology in medicine and pathology, describes their Tractice employed in the management of ischemic heart disease, particularly acute myocardial infarction. The book is brief but lucid, with the emphasis being on integration of the medical and surgical specialties. The eight chapters include the pathology of myocardial infarction, pathophysiology, surgical technique and policies for emergency revascularization, management of unstable angina, acute infarction, arrhythmias, and mechanical complications. The principles and practices described seem to be similar to those of other large clinical groups found elsewhere in America. This book, therefore, outlines very well the practices at the Brigham. ~sto~et~o~~g~

Milan,

of

Cardiac

1978, Casa Editice

rshythnias. Ambrosiana,

By Dr. 299 pages.

I,. Rossi,

This is the second edition on histopathoiogy of cardiac arrhythmias, an important publication in cardiology. There is a tendency to fail to relate the structural changes in the myocardium and conduction tissues to function when managing patients with heart disease. This book reveals very well the structural changes associated with heart disease. ilnfortunately, the functional state is not necessarily related or explained only by anatomic changes. Nevertheless, this book does indicate the possible relationships of structure to function, both in health and disease. The author, a pathologist, has performed an excellent service to cardiology in his studies in this publication. Rossi has clearly discussed and illustrated extremely well the histology of the normal conduction tissue and morphologic alterations associated with cardiac disease along with disturbances in the heart beat. The photomicrographs are very good and well selected. This book should be studied by all cardiologists. It is highly recommended, even to pathologists and anatomists. Heart Failure. McGraw-Hill

Edited by Alfred P. Fishman, New Book Company, Inc., 356 pages.

York,

19%:

This book contains the presentation on congestive heart failure held in honor of Dr. Isaac Starr of the University of Pennsylvania. There were many contributors from many parts of the U.S.A. The presentations were concerned with basic aspects of myocardial contraction, direct assessment of cardiac contraction, indirect assessment of cardiac performance. consequences of heart failure, and therapy of heart failure. Each presentation reflects the opinions and considerations of the authors. The papers are brief and the illustrations and text ciearly presented. As is true to a great extent at present. the accuracy of the measurements are not criticaliy discussed and instrumentation is prominent in the presenta.Lions. Because recordings are obtained, their usefulness is not convincing in the understanding of CHF. The literature is not completely represented. A reader who is interested in the opinions of the various coetributors to the symposium will find them clearly expressed in their respective reports. This reviewer would like to take this opportunity to express his admiration for Dr. Isaac Starr, a fine man known for his meticulous research and dedication to medicine and scholarship. Dr. Fishman and the steering committee have done a worthy and admirable job in planning and conducting this symposium. With best wishes to Dr. Starr, an outstanding clinical investigator. ynamics. Edited by Abraham Noorde~~~c~~e~~~~ System graaf, New York, San Francisco, and London, 1978, Academic Press, Inc., 351 pages. Price $36.00.

Book reviews

This is a very good review of the important procedures employed in medici.ne and physiology which relates the role of bioengineering to the study of normal and abnormal circulatory function. The author included reviews of the circulatory system, blood flow measurements, arteries, veins, microcirculation and the heart. Anyone seriously involved in cardiology should find the book extremely interesting. The author does not exhaust the subjects selected for his ten chapters nor does he include a careful review of the literature, but the presentations selected are important ones briefly reviewed as he considers the engineering and biophysical applications to understanding the behavior of the circulation. Even though this book is not written for practicing cardiologists, those in training in cardiology should know these selected principles of hydrodynamics and. hemodynamics. This is a good small book (first volume on biophysics and bioengineering) by Noordegraaf, who has devoted much time to bioengineering. by Ephriam Donoso, M.D., and Stafford I. Colhen, M.D., New York, 1979, Stratton Intercontinental Medical Book Corporation, 248 pages. Price Critical

Cardiac

Care.

Volume

V. Edited

$28.50.

The volume of Current Cardiovascular Topics on Critical Cardiac Care contains 13 chapters on important acute problems in cardiology. Among the subjects discussed are acute myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, cardiogenic shock, acute left ventricular congestive heart failure, hypertensive crises,

Books

surgical emergencies, and nursing care. This is a practical clinical publication which presents the current concepts and practices in diagnosis and management. Readers will find this book to really consist of a series of 13 separate papers, each reflecting the contr:ibutors’ points of view. Students, interns, residents, and fellows in medicine and cardiology as well as general practitioners and internists would find the volume to be helpful. Surely, differences of opinion will become evident as each paper is studied. This is a good clinical book for the practicing doctor. The reader should realize that the views expressed in this publication reflect to a great extent mainly those of the authors. Cardiology

of Mobile

Coronary

Care:

Leonard B. Rose, M.D., and Beatrice more, 1979, The Williams & Wilkins Price $13.00.

second

K. Rose, Company,

edition. By M.D., Balti116 pages.

The

Harry York,

Edited by Edward K. Chung, M.D., F.A.C.C., Baltimore, 1978, The Williams & Wilkins 391 pages. Price $34.00.

Cardiac

Pacing.

Starr, pages. The

Respiratory

Physiology-the

Essentials:

second

John B. West, M.D., Ph.D., Baltimore, 1979, The Wilkins Company, 182 pages. Price $11.50.

American

for

Physicians.

1979,

By Elliot RapaElsevier Publishing

Cardiology Update is another annual review of cardiology. This volume is well written and authentic. Some of the subjects included are echocardiography, cardiac blood pool imaging and myocardial imaging, pulmonary nuclear scanning, hemodynamic studies, cardiac pacing, role of coronary bypass surgery, aortic counterpulsation, and management of hypertension. The many discussions are clearly presented. There is no doubt th(at it is much more effective to study the original publications. However, this book is a concise source of discussions of important aspects of cardiology. This is a good book for the busy physician.

Cardiac

F.A.C.P., Company,

Reviews

received

Fundamentals

Artificial

Update:

port, Editor-in-Chief, New York, Company, 364 pages. Price $24.95.

Heart

Journal

edition.

Williams

By &

of Critical Care Medicine. Edited by Weil, M.D., Ph.D., and Robert J. Henning, M.D., 1979, Fischer Medical Publications, 205 pages.

Handbook

Valve

New Price

Prosthieses. By Edward A. Lefrak York, 1979, Appleton-Century-Crofts, $24.50.

Biochemistry

Scanu, with Robert Editors, New York, $49.75.

Max New

and Albert Inc., 419

Edited by Angelo M. W. Wissler and Godfrey S. Getz, Associate 1979, Marcel Dekker, Inc., 548 pages. Price

of Atherosclerosis.

415