Book Reviews @J Surgical
Treatment of Congenital Heart Disease by A. COOLEY, M.D.,and GRADY L. HALLMAN, M.D. Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia, 1966, pp. 213, $12.50.
growing appreciation within the medical profession of the role that intensive care units play in the care and salvage of seriously ill postoperative patients. A brief but commendable chapter is devoted to the design, staffing and equipping of a satisfactory intensive care unit, including space requirements, laboratory and monitoring facilities, continuity of training for nursing personnel, and general routines to be followed. Subsequent sections treat concisely specific aspects of postperfusion care. Appropriate emphasis is given to critical maintenance of blood balance and the complicating factors of changes in vasomotor activity, sequestration and latent blood loss. Water and electrolyte balance, common hematologic abnormalities and metabolic and respiratory acid-base changes are discussed. The remainder of the volume concentrates on the detection and treatment of specific contingencies including cardiac failure, tamponade, arrhythmia, pulmonary embolism, and renal, respiratory, and cerebral insufficiency. There is also a brief description of special problems encountered in infants and children. This monograph will be welcomed by those persons concerned with the management of seriously ill postperfusion patients. It should find special acceptance and enthusiasm among intensive care unit personnel entrusted with the supervision and training of nurses.
DENTON
The authors have prepared a clear outline of the clinical pattern, prognosis and surgical management of congenital cardiovascular defects, based upon their extensive personal experience. The first chapter deals with general considerations of positioning the patient, selection of an appropriate incision and methods of applying temporary extracorporeal circulation. Each of the succeeding nine chapters surveys one of the more common congenital lesions. Each chapter opens with a review of the pathologic anatomy followed by a brief historical account and a discussion of the embryologic basis for the defect. Diagnostic features of each abnormality are reviewed, including excellent photographs of representative roentgenograms and angiocardiograms. Short descriptions of electrocardiographic findings before and after surgery and of the indications for, and results of, cardiac catheterization nicely supplement each clinical discussion. The main thrust of each chapter is a detailed discussion of the indications for surgery of each abnormality and the palliative and corrective operative technics employed. The final chapter surveys current surgical therapy of a miscellaneous group of less frequently observed anomalies, including tricuspid atresia, pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum, truncus arteriosus, coronary artery anomalies and aortic vascular rings. Each procedure is clearly illustrated with sufficient anatomic orientation to permit understanding even by those who rarely frequent the operating room. Remarks on postoperative complications and clinical results follow the surgical discussions. Significant references are conveniently listed at the end of each chapter and add considerably to the value of the text. The book should be of value to all physicians who are interested in congenital heart disease. It will be of particular interest to cardiovascular surgeons because of the stress laid on surgical technics, complications and results. ROBERT
S. LITWAK,
HOWARD
The Veins by J. EDWIN WOOD, M.D. Little, Company, Boston, 1965, pp. 224, $10.00.
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This monograph undertakes to present the newer concepts of the function of the veins, particularly in the limbs, in the healthy or diseased human body. The first and largest portion (87 pages) is devoted in small part to a discussion of the basic concepts of veins as capacity vessels and primarily to methods of experimental study of this portion of the circulation. It deals briefly with such procedures as venous occlusion plethysmography and strain-gauge plethysmography, as well as the recorders used in measuring limb volume changes. The second portion covers the physiologic responses of the veins to various types of stimuli and states, including alterations in environmental temperature, hunger, respiration, posture, exercise and sympathomimetic drugs. The function of the sympathetic nervous system in controlling the size of the venous bed is also discussed. The third part describes a large number of disease entities in four chapters covering only 69 pages.
Postoperative Cardiac Care by M. V. BRAIMBRIDGE, M.A.,and P. E. GHADIALI, M.B. F. A. Davis, Philadelphia,
L. GADBOYS, M.D.
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THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY
Book Reviews As a consequence, aside from the sections on congestive heart failure and arterial hypertension, the role of the veins in most of the disorders is discussed superficially. In the chapter on primary venous disease. the author describes a hydrostatic pressurt stocking which may have clinical application. ‘I’he format of the book. the type and the 73 illustrations. consisting exclusively of line drawings, are all pleasing to the eye. ‘l’his book has onlv limited value to the clinician \vhose interests lie in the field of cardiology; it should be more useful to the specialist in peripheral vascular diseases and to the graduate student of physiology of the circulation. DAVID I. ABRAMSON, M.D. Its Function in Health and Disease The Heart: by ARTHCR SELZER, M.D. University of California Press, Los rlngeles, 1966, pp. 301, $5.00. This is the first volume of a series of books on medical subjects projected by the University of California Press under the title, “Perspectives in Mediwritten for the educated and sophisticated cine,” layman. ‘I‘he book differs from the usual popular ones on medical subjects by presenting an explanation of rhe various problems of heart disease instead of giving advice to the patient; the emphasis is on the .whys” rather than on the “bows.” The book is divided into three parts. The first part reviews briefly the evolution of cardiology from ancient times to the present and describes the structure and the function of the heart. Part two presents a general approach to rhe heart and circulation. is discussed from history and Cardiac diagnosis physical examination to cardiac catheterizarion and therapy is reviewed angiocardiography ; cardiac from digitalis to open-heart surgery; and abnormal cardiac performance. heart failure and disturbances of cardiac rhythm are discussed. The third part presents a systematic review of cardiac diseases: atherosclerosis. hypertension, valvular heart disease, congenital heart disease and others. Although obviously not directed to him, the book rnfy. be very useful to the cardiologist. Many inquls”ive patients wish to read about subjects related to their diseases and this book would satisfy their curiosity. It may also be useful to non-physicians working with cardiologists in research and paramedical fields. Finally, this book will interest physicians in fields other than cardiology who want a concise summary of the present status of cardiology. GEORGE C. GRIFFITH, M.D.
909
coming a very important area of medicine and surgery, namely, mechanical assistance or rrplacernent of the failing heart. Those who are entering the field will find this the fundamental referencr. ‘l‘he authorities who convened for this meeting represent the best in the field. The articles are well done and the references comprehensive. The conference \vas well conducted by Dr. Ben Eiseman. is efJ’ectively presented, and puts the recent fiasco of the public press in proper perspective. DWIGHT E. HARKEN. M.D. Pathologie Pericardique edited by A. GONIN and P. MICHAUD. Masson 1966, pp. 328, F 64.
R. FROMENT, & Cie. Paris,
This book presents a collection of essays dealing with the study of 413 cases of pericarditis between 1949 and 1966. As indicated in the introduction, both the etiologic concepts and the methods of stud) have changed considerably during this period. The first study describes the electrocardiographic data and analyzes changes of the P-Q and S-T segments and of the T waves. _4 second study describes the changes noted in the jugular and hepatic tracings, in the apex cardiogram and in the pressure tracings from the right side of the heart. Cases of constrictive pericarditis are described before and after surgical correction. ,4 third crudy analyzes the auscultatory and phonocardiographic changes. Of special interest are cases of calcific pericarditis. The pericardiac knock is recognized as a special form of the third sound, and the second sound is studied. Rare cases with valvular disturbances. either independent of or caused by constriction. arc described. Finally, abnormal sounds are studied from the cavil! of the left ventricle. Subsequent essays discuss the evolution and the various causes of pericarditis; collagen diseases and tumors followed by pericarditis; traumatic hemopericardium; and viral pericarditis. ‘I’he role of the myocardium and the various problems of diagnosis and therapy are then discussed. Further essays describe and analyze constrictive pericarditis and the chronic effusion of the pericardium. Each chapter is illustrated by original graphs or roentgenograms and is followed by a bibliography. This book represents a comprehensive modern discussion of the various problems connected with cases of pericarditis and should be greatly appreciated by students of the subject. A. .4. LL~ISADA. M.D.
Mechanical Devices to Assist the Failing Heart, Proceedings of the Conference of the National Academy of Sciences and National Research Council. National Academy of Sciences and National Research Council, Washington, D. C., 1966, pp. 287, $9.50.
Ballistocardiography and Cardiovascular Dynamics. First World Congress on Ballistocardiographyand Cardiovascular Dynamics edited by A. A. KNOOP. William & Wilkins Company. Baltimore, 1966, pp. 347, 9619.25.
‘l‘his book of just done and represents
This book is the published proceedings First World Congress on Ballistocardiography
VOLUME 19> ,JUNE 1967
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