Practical Cardiology: Evaluation and Treatment of Common Cardiovascular Disorders

Book Review Practical Cardiology: Evaluation and Treatment of Common Cardiovascular Disorders, edited by Kim A. Eagle and Ragavendra R. Baliga, 688 pp, with illus, $59.95, Philadelphia, Pa, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (telephone: 800-638-3030), 2003, ISBN 0-7817-3261-1 Type and Scope of Book: A comprehensive multiauthored review of cardiovascular symptoms, diagnoses, and common clinical scenarios. Contents: The 39 chapters are divided into sections devoted to common symptoms, conditions, and situations; 2 additional chapters focus on cardiac drugs and complementary/alternative medicine. The chapters follow a standard sequence of headings and are generously complemented by tables, illustrations, and patient management flowcharts and algorithms. The diagnoses reviewed include coronary disease, systemic and pulmonary hypertension, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, valvular and pericardial diseases, and arterial, venous, and pulmonary vascular diseases. The content is exclusively clinical, emphasizing patient presentation and basic differential diagnosis, test selection, and treatment. Each chapter concludes with a review of practical points. Strengths: Easy to read and clinically focused on common entities, the text strongly emphasizes evidence-based medicine and relevant clinical practice guidelines. Deficiencies: The figures and tables are referenced inconsistently, and the breadth of coverage varies considerably among the chapters. Some of the echocardiographic images are poorly labeled and of suboptimal quality. Given the rapid changes in the field, inclusion of the Web address for the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association clinical guidelines would have been helpful. Recommended Readership: Students, residents, and primary care providers, both physicians and nurse practitioners. Overall Grading: #### Barry L. Karon, MD, Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minn

Grading Key ★★★★★ = outstanding; ★★★★ = excellent; ★★★ = good; ★★ = fair; ★ = poor.

© 2004 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

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