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The Year in Interventional Cardiology: 2002
Book reviews
However, it is very dif®cult to get a grasp of the overall subject as the development of previous ideas and reference to past studies is often scant. Percutaneous interventions in acute coronary syndromes both with and without ST segment elevation are well covered, with clear discussions comparing the use of conservative and interventional strategies. The adjuvant use of glycoprotein 2b/3a inhibitors, low molecular heparins, and thienopyridines is addressed. The chapters on the development of restenosis and its treatment, with particular emphasis on brachytherapy, are well covered. The use of drug-eluting stents is brie¯y mentioned in stent design and coating, but there is little information about more recent developments in their ability to limit restenosis. Developments in carotid and renal artery stenting are well summarized, but there is no mention of the use of covered stents in the treatment of aortic dissections or aneurysms. The last few chapters of the book discuss the emerging role of new imaging modalities such as 3D echocardiography, MRI, and electron beam computerized tomography in guiding clinical practice. The chapters are well structured with the information presented in a clear and concise manner. Important topics are covered in detail and well indexed to be useful sources of reference. The conclusions at the end of each chapter provide the reader with a clear summary and unanswered questions are identi®ed. We feel that this book goes a long way towards achieving its objective in covering the latest developments in interventional cardiology. The contributors have done an excellent job in summarizing the extensive literature to produce a useful collection of key clinical studies, which are well presented. However, in the rapidly moving ®eld of interventional cardiology, the next volume is already awaited. S. Aziz and R. H. Stables
The Year in Interventional Cardiology: 2002. H. D. White, P. J. de Feijter, B. Meier, A. Colombo, A. P. Banning and R. SchraÈder. Published by Clinical Publishing Services Ltd, Oxford. Pp. 360; indexed; illustrated. Price £49.50. ISBN 0-9537339-7-1. Interventional cardiology is a rapidly developing ®eld with a strong emphasis on evidence-based treatment. Each year sees the publication of many clinical studies designed to further de®ne the role of both percutaneous interventions and pharmacological therapy in the management of coronary artery disease. The Year in Interventional Cardiology: 2002 is the ®rst edition in what we are told will be a regular series. Its purpose is to bring the reader up-to-date in one volume by presenting the important clinical studies published between 2000 and 2001. Key areas are reviewed with several internationally renowned experts having contributed to this edition. This book is not meant to be an introduction to interventional cardiology and a basic understanding of important principles and previous studies is necessary to follow the text. It is primarily aimed at interventional cardiologists and would be useful for those in training or in research. The book is divided into six main sections, which are the pharmacological management of acute coronary syndromes, percutaneous coronary intervention in acute coronary syndromes, stents, restenosis, cardiac imaging outside the catheter laboratory, and contrast agents. The background, results and interpretation of these studies are well presented with important emphasis on clinical application of the results. Where relevant, useful tables, graphs and ®gures are clearly presented. The consistent application of this structured format presents the reader with information in a very logical and precise manner.
665
Downloaded from http://bja.oxfordjournals.org/ by guest on June 12, 2015
congenital heart disease is both concise and comprehensive. The repetition of discussion of preoperative risk assessment in the chapters on coronary artery disease and ambulatory surgery is a minor annoyance, as is the omission of any discussion on detecting and managing perioperative pacing problems. The section on cardiac surgery begins with an overview of cardiopulmonary bypass, and moves on to minimally invasive surgery, thoracic aortic surgery, and transplantation. The detailed description of ventricular assist devices has to be balanced against the absence of any detailed discussion of valve surgery. The ®nal section deals with vascular, thoracic and ambulatory surgery, trauma, neurosurgery, and obstetrics. From the outset, Anesthesia for the Cardiac Patient is an ambitious project, particularly when one considers that the `standard' cardiac anaesthesia texts are all considerably longer. The discussion of TOE billing codes and the omission of any reference to the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE), suggests that this is very much a volume targeted at North America. It is perhaps unfortunate that neither the Foreword nor the Preface gives any clue as to who the intended target readership might be. Having now read the book, I still remain unsure. For trainees and generalists there is perhaps too much detailÐevidenced by discussions of minimally invasive cardiac surgery and ventricular assist devices. For the cardiothoracic specialist, there is too little detail. For my money (and for the trainee preparing for specialty examinations), the standard cardiac tomes, Benumof's Anesthesia for Thoracic Surgery, Jonathan Mark's Atlas of Cardiovascular Monitoring, and Bobbie Jean Sweitzer's Handbook of Preoperative Assessment and Management, remain unsurpassed. J. E. Arrowsmith Cambridge, UK
However, it is very dif®cult to get a grasp of the overall subject as the development of previous ideas and reference to past studies is often scant. Percutaneous interventions in acute coronary syndromes both with and without ST segment elevation are well covered, with clear discussions comparing the use of conservative and interventional strategies. The adjuvant use of glycoprotein 2b/3a inhibitors, low molecular heparins, and thienopyridines is addressed. The chapters on the development of restenosis and its treatment, with particular emphasis on brachytherapy, are well covered. The use of drug-eluting stents is brie¯y mentioned in stent design and coating, but there is little information about more recent developments in their ability to limit restenosis. Developments in carotid and renal artery stenting are well summarized, but there is no mention of the use of covered stents in the treatment of aortic dissections or aneurysms. The last few chapters of the book discuss the emerging role of new imaging modalities such as 3D echocardiography, MRI, and electron beam computerized tomography in guiding clinical practice. The chapters are well structured with the information presented in a clear and concise manner. Important topics are covered in detail and well indexed to be useful sources of reference. The conclusions at the end of each chapter provide the reader with a clear summary and unanswered questions are identi®ed. We feel that this book goes a long way towards achieving its objective in covering the latest developments in interventional cardiology. The contributors have done an excellent job in summarizing the extensive literature to produce a useful collection of key clinical studies, which are well presented. However, in the rapidly moving ®eld of interventional cardiology, the next volume is already awaited. S. Aziz and R. H. Stables
The Year in Interventional Cardiology: 2002. H. D. White, P. J. de Feijter, B. Meier, A. Colombo, A. P. Banning and R. SchraÈder. Published by Clinical Publishing Services Ltd, Oxford. Pp. 360; indexed; illustrated. Price £49.50. ISBN 0-9537339-7-1. Interventional cardiology is a rapidly developing ®eld with a strong emphasis on evidence-based treatment. Each year sees the publication of many clinical studies designed to further de®ne the role of both percutaneous interventions and pharmacological therapy in the management of coronary artery disease. The Year in Interventional Cardiology: 2002 is the ®rst edition in what we are told will be a regular series. Its purpose is to bring the reader up-to-date in one volume by presenting the important clinical studies published between 2000 and 2001. Key areas are reviewed with several internationally renowned experts having contributed to this edition. This book is not meant to be an introduction to interventional cardiology and a basic understanding of important principles and previous studies is necessary to follow the text. It is primarily aimed at interventional cardiologists and would be useful for those in training or in research. The book is divided into six main sections, which are the pharmacological management of acute coronary syndromes, percutaneous coronary intervention in acute coronary syndromes, stents, restenosis, cardiac imaging outside the catheter laboratory, and contrast agents. The background, results and interpretation of these studies are well presented with important emphasis on clinical application of the results. Where relevant, useful tables, graphs and ®gures are clearly presented. The consistent application of this structured format presents the reader with information in a very logical and precise manner.
665
Downloaded from http://bja.oxfordjournals.org/ by guest on June 12, 2015
congenital heart disease is both concise and comprehensive. The repetition of discussion of preoperative risk assessment in the chapters on coronary artery disease and ambulatory surgery is a minor annoyance, as is the omission of any discussion on detecting and managing perioperative pacing problems. The section on cardiac surgery begins with an overview of cardiopulmonary bypass, and moves on to minimally invasive surgery, thoracic aortic surgery, and transplantation. The detailed description of ventricular assist devices has to be balanced against the absence of any detailed discussion of valve surgery. The ®nal section deals with vascular, thoracic and ambulatory surgery, trauma, neurosurgery, and obstetrics. From the outset, Anesthesia for the Cardiac Patient is an ambitious project, particularly when one considers that the `standard' cardiac anaesthesia texts are all considerably longer. The discussion of TOE billing codes and the omission of any reference to the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE), suggests that this is very much a volume targeted at North America. It is perhaps unfortunate that neither the Foreword nor the Preface gives any clue as to who the intended target readership might be. Having now read the book, I still remain unsure. For trainees and generalists there is perhaps too much detailÐevidenced by discussions of minimally invasive cardiac surgery and ventricular assist devices. For the cardiothoracic specialist, there is too little detail. For my money (and for the trainee preparing for specialty examinations), the standard cardiac tomes, Benumof's Anesthesia for Thoracic Surgery, Jonathan Mark's Atlas of Cardiovascular Monitoring, and Bobbie Jean Sweitzer's Handbook of Preoperative Assessment and Management, remain unsurpassed. J. E. Arrowsmith Cambridge, UK