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Progress in cardiology
BOOK REVIEWS Progress
in Cardiology,
John
Goodwin,
F.
1972,283
MD.
edited
by Paul
Philadelphia,
N. Lea
Yu, &
MD
and
Febiger,
pages.
This is the first in a planned series of volumes presenting critical reviews of recent advances. current practice and future trends in cardiology. The current volume consists of 10 reviews, 6 originating in the IJnited States, 4 in Great Britain. Future issues will maintain this international flavor, and the editors expect to include contributions from other countries as well. The articles are generally excellent, thorough and up to date. However, as in most works by many authors, there is considerable variation in the quality of writing and the level of sophistication. Although the topics are unrelated, they are all in areas of current active study and of importance to the clinician. Perhaps the best sections are the critical discussion by Mason, Zelis, Amsterdam and Massumi of the multitude of techniques and formulas for the clinical determination of left ventricular contractility and a fine analysis by Weissler, Lewis and Leighton of systolic time intervals as a measure of left ventricular performance. The article on drug interaction in cardiovascular disease summarizes well the increasingly complex problems of multiple drug use. This discussion should be read, and probably memorized, by every practicing physician. Although these essays are advertised as critical reviews. some tend to present controversial opinions as fact. For example, in the section on the operative management of coronary arteriosclerosis, Favaloro includes “myocardial infarction without cardiogenic shock” as an indication for immediate coronary arteriography and possible saphenous vein bypass surgery. One wonders if the editors agree with this opinion. And should they not, in some way. warn the uninformed reader, on an issue of this importance, that the author’s position is one which is not now generally accepted? One possible approach in future volumes might be to have experts from several countries address themselves to the same topic. Other topics presented include computers in cardiology. the genesis of arrhythmias in acute myocardial infarction,
400
March 1973
The American
Journal
of CARDIOLOGY
Volume
the clinical pharmacology of antiarrhythmic agents in acute myocardial infarction, control of the venous system in man, treatment of tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary edema. This book is highly recommended to all those with an interest in current trends in clinical cardiology, from the level of the senior medical student to that of the practicing internist or cardiologist. Those actively involved in the individual areas discussed will probably find nothing new here. Dates for subsequent issues have not yet been set, but if the level of this initial volume is maintained, I look forward to future volumes with great interest. Phillip Kuslansky, Great
Introduction
to
Thomas
Blake.
1972,
M.
218 pages,
Electrocardiography, New
York,
Neck.
second
MD
New York
edition,
by
Appleton-Century-Crofts,
$7.50
Recent years have brought us a number of books designed to provide an introduction to electrocardiology. This book has several attributes that make it as good or better than many. It is concise and deals more with concepts and principles than with minute details and criteria. The student is presented with a modern vectorial concept that relates the anatomic position and the physiologic action of the heart with the electrical tracing produced. With this foundation of understanding, the most complex problems of interpretation can be reasoned out. The text handles the material logically and adequate diagrams and instructive pictorial analogies are used. My only reservation concerns the brevity of presentation of certain basic physiologic explanations, which require some background information if the reader is to come away with the full lesson. The book is designed for medical students and house staff but would certainly be helpful to any generalist as a quick refresher. L. J. Klecatsky, MD New Rochelle, New York
31
in Cardiology,
John
Goodwin,
F.
1972,283
MD.
edited
by Paul
Philadelphia,
N. Lea
Yu, &
MD
and
Febiger,
pages.
This is the first in a planned series of volumes presenting critical reviews of recent advances. current practice and future trends in cardiology. The current volume consists of 10 reviews, 6 originating in the IJnited States, 4 in Great Britain. Future issues will maintain this international flavor, and the editors expect to include contributions from other countries as well. The articles are generally excellent, thorough and up to date. However, as in most works by many authors, there is considerable variation in the quality of writing and the level of sophistication. Although the topics are unrelated, they are all in areas of current active study and of importance to the clinician. Perhaps the best sections are the critical discussion by Mason, Zelis, Amsterdam and Massumi of the multitude of techniques and formulas for the clinical determination of left ventricular contractility and a fine analysis by Weissler, Lewis and Leighton of systolic time intervals as a measure of left ventricular performance. The article on drug interaction in cardiovascular disease summarizes well the increasingly complex problems of multiple drug use. This discussion should be read, and probably memorized, by every practicing physician. Although these essays are advertised as critical reviews. some tend to present controversial opinions as fact. For example, in the section on the operative management of coronary arteriosclerosis, Favaloro includes “myocardial infarction without cardiogenic shock” as an indication for immediate coronary arteriography and possible saphenous vein bypass surgery. One wonders if the editors agree with this opinion. And should they not, in some way. warn the uninformed reader, on an issue of this importance, that the author’s position is one which is not now generally accepted? One possible approach in future volumes might be to have experts from several countries address themselves to the same topic. Other topics presented include computers in cardiology. the genesis of arrhythmias in acute myocardial infarction,
400
March 1973
The American
Journal
of CARDIOLOGY
Volume
the clinical pharmacology of antiarrhythmic agents in acute myocardial infarction, control of the venous system in man, treatment of tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary edema. This book is highly recommended to all those with an interest in current trends in clinical cardiology, from the level of the senior medical student to that of the practicing internist or cardiologist. Those actively involved in the individual areas discussed will probably find nothing new here. Dates for subsequent issues have not yet been set, but if the level of this initial volume is maintained, I look forward to future volumes with great interest. Phillip Kuslansky, Great
Introduction
to
Thomas
Blake.
1972,
M.
218 pages,
Electrocardiography, New
York,
Neck.
second
MD
New York
edition,
by
Appleton-Century-Crofts,
$7.50
Recent years have brought us a number of books designed to provide an introduction to electrocardiology. This book has several attributes that make it as good or better than many. It is concise and deals more with concepts and principles than with minute details and criteria. The student is presented with a modern vectorial concept that relates the anatomic position and the physiologic action of the heart with the electrical tracing produced. With this foundation of understanding, the most complex problems of interpretation can be reasoned out. The text handles the material logically and adequate diagrams and instructive pictorial analogies are used. My only reservation concerns the brevity of presentation of certain basic physiologic explanations, which require some background information if the reader is to come away with the full lesson. The book is designed for medical students and house staff but would certainly be helpful to any generalist as a quick refresher. L. J. Klecatsky, MD New Rochelle, New York
31