Ebook: Overview of Cardiac Surgery for the Cardiologist

The motivation for this book was the recognition by two of us (RL and TL) that, despite our training as cardiologists, we had a limited understand­ ing of many aspects of the surgical management of our patients. Conversa­ tions with other cardiologists at our own institution and at other medical centers around the country convinced us that many of our colleagues shared our uncertainty about the details of surgical procedures and the factors that determine decisions in the perioperative period. As surgical techniques continue to evolve, this knowledge gap can become only more severe. We therefore compiled information about cardiac surgery that might be useful for cardiologists and other nonsurgeons. We asked cardiologists what questions they would like to ask their surgical colleagues and provided these questions to the authors of the chapters. Thus, the goal of these chapters is to help nonsurgeons answer their own questions about common cardiac procedures, and to help prepare these physicians to address the questions raised by their patients. In addition, we hope that insight into these issues will improve communication between surgeons and their col­ leagues-and, ultimately, lead to better patient care. Contents Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xi 1 Chapter 1. Anesthesia for Cardiac Surgery JONATHAN B. MARK Chapter 2. Cardiopulmonary Bypass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 DANIEL FITZGERALD Chapter 3. Myocardial Protection in Cardiac Surgery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 JEFFREY SELL Chapter 4. Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 HENDRICK B. BARNER Chapter 5. Surgery for Left Ventricular Outflow Obstruction: Aortic Valve Replacement and Myomectomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Written in easily accessible terms for the non-surgeon, Overview of Cardiac Surgery for the Cardiologist provides the essential information cardiologists need when counseling their patients about heart surgery. Surgical procedures are described without an excess of technical jargon to make cardiologists more aware of the benefits and limitations of cardiac surgery, and to enable the physician to explain cardiac operations more clearly to the patient. Fifteen eminent cardiac surgeons contribute chapters on: cardiac anesthesia; cardiopulmonary bypass; myocardial protection; coronary bypass surgery; aortic, mitral, and tricuspid valve replacement and repair; adult congenital heart disease; cardiac transplantation; mechanical assist devices; active endocarditis; surgical considerations of prosthetic valve selection; reoperations; plus a unique question and answer format.