Congenital Diseases of the Heart: Clinical-Physiological Considerations - Hardcover

Rudolph, Abraham M.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0879934719 ISBN 13: 9780879934712

Publisher: Blackwell Pub, 2001

Synopsis

Congenital Diseases of the Heart: Clinical-Physiological Considerations, Fully Revised and Updated Second Edition represents the accumulated experiences of the author. Dr. Abraham M. Rudolph is recognized internationally as a leading contributor in the field of Pediatric Cardiology. Since the publication of the book's first edition in 1974, remarkable achievements in diagnostic and therapeutic techniques have been attained, making possible and necessary this thorough update of the work.

A uniquely important contribution of this new edition is the discussion of the hemodynamic and clinical features and their impact at various stages of development-from fetus to neonate to infant to child and adolescent. Due to the advent of prenatal ultrasound and Doppler flow studies, concepts of the influence of congenital cardiac lesions that were once based largely on conjecture can now be measured, compared, and quantified.

The book discusses congenital cardiac disorders from the perspective of the abnormal hemodynamics of the circulation, reviewing current concepts as well as controversial issues (such as the advisability of procedures for alleviating cardiac lesions in utero). The physiology of the fetal normal circulation is presented and the effects of congenital cardiac lesions are discussed with particular reference to the interactions between the lesions and fetal cardiovascular development. A list of carefully selected references offers further guidance to relevant literature.

Pediatric cardiologists, neonatologists, and pediatric intensive care physicians, as well as clinicians treating adult patients with congenital heart diseases, will find this updated classic to be useful, informative, and enlightening.

About this title

About the Author

Abraham M. Rudolph, Emeritus Professor of Pediatrics and Senior Staff, Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.

From The New England Journal of Medicine

Remarkable progress has been made in the understanding and management of congenital heart disease since the first edition of Congenital Diseases of the Heart was published 25 years ago. With the ability of cardiac ultrasonography to define the anatomy of cardiac defects with great precision, diagnostic cardiac catheterization is seldom required, and interventional catheterization has largely replaced diagnostic studies. Dr. Rudolph began his career in pediatric cardiology in a physiology laboratory, and he has contributed greatly to our understanding of fetal circulation, postnatal adaptation, and the pathophysiology of congenital cardiac defects. As an experienced clinician, he correlates the clinical features of various cardiac defects with the resulting pathophysiologic features. His understanding of the dynamic nature of cardiac defects from fetal life to adolescence is well presented and makes for a clear and interesting book.

The book is unique among the current textbooks of pediatric cardiology. First, it has a single author, and except for abundant schematic figures and a few tables, it has no illustrations. The first four chapters discuss our current knowledge of cardiopulmonary physiology. Chapter one deals with the fetal circulation and postnatal adaptation. Chapter two, on functional assessment, will certainly be helpful for trainees in cardiology. Details of pressure measurements, cardiac output, intravascular shunts, and dye dilution are presented clearly and concisely. Oxygen uptake and delivery are covered in chapter three, and chapter four reviews prenatal and postnatal pulmonary circulation. These four chapters will benefit neonatologists, perinatologists, and pediatric and adult cardiologists who seek a current understanding of cardiopulmonary physiology.

The next 14 chapters deal with specific cardiac defects. Each chapter follows a similar pattern. The specific lesion is discussed with regard to morphology, hemodynamics, and postnatal circulatory adaptation. The symptoms, physical examination, and diagnostic studies are presented clearly and concisely. Each chapter contains a section on principles of management, which includes the natural history and the therapeutic options. The book is easy to read and reflects the experience of an outstanding clinician who is also a renowned researcher.

The book does not attempt to be a comprehensive review of every cardiac anomaly but covers in detail the most common defects. It is a personal book, containing many clinical pearls and reflecting Dr. Rudolph's own views. Students, residents, and cardiology fellows are all fascinated by the spectacular technology of cardiac ultrasonography and Doppler studies but pay less attention to the pathophysiology resulting from the anatomical defects. Dr. Rudolph clearly shows how the clinical findings correlate with the anatomy and explains the physiological consequences. Cardiac ultrasonography is relegated to its rightful role as a very important and reliable diagnostic tool. A clear understanding of the dynamic nature of congenital heart disease, and how the clinical picture reflects the pathophysiology, places the clinical evaluation of the individual patient in proper perspective. For cardiologists trained in recent years, this book should be required reading.

Jacqueline A. Noonan, M.D.
Copyright © 2001 Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved. The New England Journal of Medicine is a registered trademark of the MMS.

About this edition

• Publisher: Blackwell Pub
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0879934719
• ISBN 13: 9780879934712
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 808