The heart is our most important - and perhaps most mysterious - organ.

Every day it pumps 9000 litres of blood and beats around 100,000 times. But the heart is more than just a pump. In all major human cultures, it is seen as the source of love, sympathy, joy, courage, strength and wisdom. Why is this so?

Having witnessed the extraordinary complexity and unpredictability of human hearts in the operating theatre - each one individual in its make-up, like a fingerprint - heart surgeon Reinhard Friedl went on a search for answers. He examined closely the latest findings in neurocardiology and psychocardiology, and in The Beat of Life he shares his discoveries, using riveting personal stories to illustrate the complex relationship between the heart, the brain and the psyche.

Cardiopulmonary Bypass: Advancements in Extracorporeal Life Support provides comprehensive coverage on the technological developments and clinical applications of extracorporeal technologies, including the underlying basic science and the latest clinical advances in the field. Written by experts around the world, this book comprises all characteristics of cardiopulmonary bypass as well as chapters regarding equipment, physiology and pathology, pediatric aspects and clinical applications. Important highlights include the latest updates regarding minimal invasive cardiopulmonary bypass (MICPB), extracorporeal circulatory and respiratory support (ECCRS) in cardiac and non-cardiac patients, ECMO support in COVID-19, and updated guidelines of extracorporeal technologies. This book is an invaluable resource to clinicians, researchers and medical students in the fields of cardiothoracic surgery, cardiac anesthesiology, intensive care, and perfusion technology.

The third edition of Cardiopulmonary Bypass offers a comprehensive, and up-to-date reference text to extracorporeal cardiopulmonary support. This book provides a clinically-focused tutorial with chapters spanning the technical aspects, patient related considerations, and human factors essential to contemporary practice of cardiopulmonary bypass. Written concisely to allow the reader to gain and apply critical knowledge to the clinical setting and featuring artwork that has been extensively updated to include numerous figures and color plates imbedded into each chapter. A remarkable collection of international experts in the fields of perfusion, anesthesiology, and cardiac surgery were recruited to co-author chapters, providing a multidisciplinary approach to case management. This completely updated edition includes expanded content on developments in minimally invasive extracorporeal circulation, anticoagulation, organ injury, and human factors. The comprehensive coverage of perfusion practice in a concise, highly illustrated format makes it the go-to, portable reference manual for perfusionists, cardiac surgeons, and anesthesiologists.

The first edition of Robotic Surgery was written only a decade after the introduction of robotic technology. It was the first comprehensive robotic surgery reference and represented the early pioneering look ahead to the future of surgery. Building upon its success, this successor edition serves as a complete multi-specialty sourcebook for robotic surgery. It seeks to explore an in-depth look into surgical robotics and remote technologies leading to the goal of achieving the benefits of traditional surgery with the least disruption to the normal functions of the human body. Written by experts in the field, chapters cover the fundamental principles of robotic surgery and provide clear instruction on their clinical application and long term results. Most notably, one chapter on "The Blueprint for the Establishment of a Successful Robotic Surgery Program: Lessons from Admiral Hymen R. Rickover and the Nuclear Navy" outlines the many valuable lessons from the transformative change which was brought about by the introduction of nuclear technology into the conventional navy with Safety as the singular goal of the change process. Robotics represents a monumental triumph of surgical technology. Undoubtedly, the safety of the patient will be the ultimate determinant of its success. The second edition of Robotic Surgery aims to erase the artificial boundaries of specialization based on regional anatomy and serves as a comprehensive multispecialty reference for all robot surgeons. It allows them to contemplate crossing boundaries which are historically defined by traditional open surgery.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA BIOGRAPHY PRIZE THE SUNDAY TIMES NO.2 BESTSELLER WINNER OF THE BMA PRESIDENT'S AWARD 2017 An incredible memoir from one of the world's most eminent heart surgeons, recalling some of the most remarkable and poignant cases he's worked on. Grim Reaper sits on the heart surgeon's shoulder. A slip of the hand and life ebbs away. The balance between life and death is so delicate, and the heart surgeon walks that rope between the two. In the operating room there is no time for doubt. It is flesh, blood, rib-retractors and pumping the vital organ with your bare hand to squeeze the life back into it. An off-day can have dire consequences - this job has a steep learning curve, and the cost is measured in human life. Cardiac surgery is not for the faint of heart. Professor Stephen Westaby took chances and pushed the boundaries of heart surgery. He saved hundreds of lives over the course of a thirty-five year career and now, in his astounding memoir, Westaby details some of his most remarkable and poignant cases - such as the baby who had suffered multiple heart attacks by six months old, a woman who lived the nightmare of locked-in syndrome, and a man whose life was powered by a battery for eight years. A powerful, important and incredibly moving book, Fragile Lives offers an exceptional insight into the exhilarating and sometimes tragic world of heart surgery, and how it feels to hold someone's life in your hands.

Modern biological understanding is the basis for a multimodality treatment of a tumor. 'Anatomic Basis of Tumor Surgery' is the only book that provides an anatomic basis and description of tumor surgery based on an understanding of both the anatomy and biology of tumor progression. It presents the regional anatomy to allow tailoring of the operation as demanded.

With a large volume of ultrasound images and teaching videos, Pleural Ultrasound for Clinicians: A Text and E-book is a print and interactive digital resource that provides practical guidance for all those undertaking pleural ultrasound investigations and procedures. With clear, precise instructions for clinical practice, it will help clinicians: Recognise normal anatomy as well as common pleural pathologies Perfect techniques for ultrasound-guided pleural procedures Learn how to choose the correct ultrasound equipment for their department Test their knowledge through the self-assessment and revision sections

Topics include basic considerations and techniques, venous drainage of the myocardium, structure and function of the cardiac lymphatic system, coronary sinus interventions in experimental research, and more.

A TIMES BEST BOOK OF 2019 An intimate and compelling exploration into the unique psyche of the heart surgeon, by one of the profession's most eminent figures. Although Professor Stephen Westaby was born with the necessary coordination and manual dexterity, it was a head trauma sustained during university that gifted him the qualities of an exceptional heart surgeon: qualities that are frequently associated with psychopathy. His thirty-five-year career has been characterised by fearlessness and ruthless ambition; leaving empathy at the hospital door as thousands of patients put their lives in his hands. For heart surgeons, the inevitable cost of failure is death and in The Knife's Edge, Westaby reflects on the unique mindset of those who are drawn to this exhilarating and often tragic profession. We discover the pioneers who grasped opportunities and took chances to drive innovation and save lives. Often difficult, uninhibited and fearless, theirs is a field constantly threatened by the risk of public failure. Like those before him, Westaby refuses to draw the line in his search of a lifetime solution to problems of the heart. His determination is unerring - a steadfastness underpinned by his unusual mind. But as we glimpse into the future of cardiac surgery, for all its remarkable scientific advancement, one question remains: within the confines of socialised medical healthcare systems, how can heart surgeons - individuals often hardwired with avoidance of self-doubt, a penchant for glory and a flagrant disregard for authority - truly flourish?

Once considered an experimental therapy, lung transplantation is now regarded as a viable treatment option for selected patients with end-stage lung diseases. As more and more of these cases arise, it becomes imperative for those involved in the care of lung transplant patients to have a vast understanding of the multidiscipline process of lung transplantation. This text provides a comprehensive overview of this process covering everything from the history of the lung transplant program to the long term effects of the procedure.

With an emphasis on the "how and why" of contemporary surgery, Operative Techniques in Surgery, Second Edition, features concise, bulleted text, full-color illustrations, and intraoperative photographs to clarify exactly what to look for and how to proceed. Meticulously edited by Drs. Mary T. Hawn, Aurora D. Pryor, Steven J. Hughes, Michael S. Sabel, Kellie R. Brown and Amy J. Goldberg, this comprehensive, two-volume surgical atlas focuses on the steps of each technique, rapidly directing you to the information you need to choose the right approach for each patient, perform it successfully, and achieve the best possible results. Coverage includes open as well as laparoscopic, robotic, endoscopic, and endovascular procedures in gastrointestinal, thoracic, esophageal, colorectal, hepatobiliary, breast, endocrine, dermatologic, vascular, and trauma surgery New, comprehensive section on trauma surgery, helmed by trauma expert Dr. Amy J. Goldberg New section editors for esophageal and foregut surgery and vascular surgery, Dr. Aurora D. Pryor minimally invasive surgery leader and Kellie R. Brown, expert in vascular surgery. New videos, personally selected by contributing authors and editors, accompany numerous chapters throughout the book Extensive updates throughout, including new coverage of the American Board of Surgery's SCORE Curricula for General Surgery and for Complex General Surgical Oncology Each procedure follows the same format: differential diagnosis, patient history and physical findings, imaging and other diagnostic studies, surgical management, techniques, pearls and pitfalls, postoperative care, outcomes, and complications Enrich Your eBook Reading Experience Read directly on your preferred device(s), such as computer, tablet, or smartphone. Easily convert to audiobook, powering your content with natural language text-to-speech.

Artificial hearts are seductive devices. Their promissory nature as a cure for heart failure aligned neatly with the twentieth-century American medical community's view of the body as an entity of replacement parts. In Artificial Hearts, Shelley McKellar traces the controversial history of this imperfect technology beginning in the 1950s and leading up to the present day. McKellar profiles generations of researchers and devices as she traces the heart's development and clinical use. She situates the events of Dr. Michael DeBakey and Dr. Denton Cooley's professional fall-out after the first artificial heart implant case in 1969, as well as the 1982-83 Jarvik-7 heart implant case of Barney Clark, within a larger historical trajectory. She explores how some individuals-like former US Vice President Dick Cheney-affected the public profile of this technology by choosing to be implanted with artificial hearts. Finally, she explains the varied physical experiences, both negative and positive, of numerous artificial heart recipients. McKellar argues that desirability-rather than the feasibility or practicality of artificial hearts-drove the invention of the device. Technical challenges and unsettling clinical experiences produced an ambivalence toward its continued development by many researchers, clinicians, politicians, bioethicists, and the public. But the potential and promise of the artificial heart offset this ambivalence, influencing how success was characterized and by whom. Packed with larger-than-life characters-from dedicated and ardent scientists to feuding Texas surgeons and brave patients-this book is a fascinating case study that speaks to questions of expectations, limitations, and uncertainty in a high-technology medical world.

This text, published in the profession's centenary year, traces the history of cardiac surgery from ancient times to the present, detailing clinical developments with facsimilies of the original articles, consent forms from the first heart transplant, newspaper articles, and correspondence. The text follows a set pattern, describing the historical background to each new procedure, facsimilies of the original articles, bibliography of the main clinicians, and a commentary putting each development into its historical context.

Updated and expanded, this comprehensive new edition captures the considerable evolution in the anesthetic management of patients requiring anesthesia for non-cardiac intrathoracic diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Major advances addressed include the expanded role of ultrasound beyond trans-esophageal echocardiography, the role of extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation in thoracic anesthesia, and postoperative pain management for thoracic surgery. Chapters are authored by prominent anesthesiologists and feature cases commonly encountered in clinical practice. Authoritative and the leading text in the field, this book will serve as an indispensible guide to practitioners of thoracic anesthesia at all levels.

There is an increasing need for medical thoracoscopy performed by pulmonologists, which may be video assisted and has the advantage of being very cost-effective. This book is a comprehensive and up-to-date guide to thoracoscopy for pulmonologists that documents the considerable progress in endoscopic telescopes and instrumentation. Clear practical guidance is provided on technique, and diagnostic, therapeutic, and interventional applications of thoracoscopy are all carefully examined with the aid of high-quality illustrations. Although medical thoracoscopy is much less invasive than thoracotomy, complications can occur in a small number of cases; these are discussed and advice on prevention is provided. The concluding section examines the future of the field, covering developments such as mini thoracoscopy, autofluorescence thoracoscopy, and flexi-rigid thoracoscopy.

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The landscape of cardiac surgery is changing, as is the field of interventional cardiology. The idea of accessing and replacing a failing valve through the patients vasculature has become the most rapidly expanding therapy of choice in cardiovascular disease. Transcatheter Valve Therapies chronicles the astonishing advances that have taken place in the field and prepares readers for the challenging future of cardiac valve therapies. Designed to meet the growing needs of cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, anesthetists, and general practitioners, the book covers all aspects from logistic needs to clinical outcomes. It provides a comprehensive overview of transcatheter valve therapies and the necessary understanding for a successful clinical introduction at individual institutions. Topics include: Epidemiologic considerations Aspects of balloon aortic valvuloplasty as a stand-alone procedure or as part of the transcatheter valve replacement The history of how transcatheter valve therapies were implemented into surgical practice New imaging modalities The particularities of transcatheter access Aortic root anatomy Emerging technologies and future design improvements Development steps of aortic devices and potential solutions for transcatheter tricuspid, mitral, and pulmonary valve replacement The rigorous testing requirements for endovascular medical devices Clinical results of aortic transcatheter valve therapies in easy accessible text and table formats The future of transcatheter valve therapies All topics are discussed based on the author's own clinical and experimental experience in the field. This volume is essential for anyone involved in transcatheter valve implantation, clinicians wishing to become more involved in improving transcatheter valve therapies, and researchers engaged in building and creating new medical technologies to shape the cardiovascular landscape of the future.

Since publication of the First Edition, advances in the diagnosis and prevention and treatment strategies of the vulnerable plaque have necessitated this greatly expanded second edition. With several new chapters covering mainly diagnostic and treatment options, The Handbook of the Vulnerable Plaque will remain the benchmark text for all interventional cardiologists treating vulnerable patients by providing the physician with comprehensive insight into the world of the vulnerable plaque.

Following the recent publication of new guidelines by the European Society of Cardiology, this fully up-to-date work provides cardiologists and cardiac surgeons with the first comprehensive guide to post-operative management of patients who have undergone heart valve surgery. An international team of contributors, all recognized authorities in their field, and themselves contributors to the new guidelines, present evidence-based recommendations for managing a range of clinical problems in both adults and children, extending from immediate care in the hospital setting, through to long-term considerations for the primary care physician. Topics covered include:* rehabilitation * management of thrombosis* hemolysis* rheumatic fever* endocarditis* special considerations such as care of the patient undergoing non-cardiac surgery. Illustrated with numerous graphics, checklists and flow charts to enable readers to locate information rapidly and easily, Heart Valve Disease provides practical guidance on a range of common clinical scenarios, encompassing immediate post-operative care in the hospital as well as long-term management in the primary care settings.

Use of the transcervical approach in thoracic surgery has advanced significantly during the past 60 years, owing primarily to advances in technology. Nevertheless, the possibilities of this approach have never been compiled in a systematic way. This book aims to rectify the situation by describing, in a structured way, all the thoracic procedures that can be performed using the transcervical approach. Indications and contraindications, surgical techniques, complications, and results are all covered, based on the authors experience and published reports. The contents encompass diverse surgical endoscopic procedures for diagnosis and staging, use of the transcervical approach for surgery to the thymus and mediastinum, lungs and bronchi, trachea and esophagus and miscellaneous items including the role of robotic surgery."

The first in the Problems in Anesthesia seris, Cardiothoracic Surgery examine and provide guidance for a number of problematic clinical scenarios in cardiothoracic surgery anesthesia. This is a field which is growing in complexity due to the increasingly diverse set of conditions that are now treated surgically, and also due to developments in technology which are leading to different approaches to even common problems. This book will be of interest to the qualified specialist and the general trainee in anesthesiology.

Cases are presented followed by an approach to the case, utilizing the various experiences of anesthesiologists from both sides of the Atlantic. The case-based teaching relates the material to the clinic, and the discussion then explains the options in approach. Each chapter concludes with a series of essential tips in dealing with the various problems. Cases covered range from the common (e.g. off-pump coronary bypass) to the rare (e.g. anesthetic management of the patient with carcinoid heart disease).

The aim of the book is to allow readers to learn from both the successes and the complications within the cases covered, and in this way disseminate knowledge amongst those working in the field as well as pave the way for further investigation and continued advancement.

The revised fourth edition of this classic textbook on cardiac anatomy written from the stance of the cardiac surgeon features many new images, including computed tomography angiography. The provision of multiple high quality surgical and pathological photographs makes it essential reading for cardiac surgeons, and of great value to cardiologists, surgical pathologists, radiologists and anaesthetists. The book will also be a valuable reference resource for any healthcare professional or researcher who needs to understand detailed cardiac anatomy. The book begins by describing the surgical approaches to the heart. It goes on to discuss the normal surgical anatomy of the cardiac chambers, the valves, and the systems for circulation and conduction within the heart. This provides the essential anatomical information required to assess and interpret the malformations, lesions and abnormalities discussed in the remainder of the book.

Thoracic surgery is a high-risk speciality and requires attention to detail. This book, compiled by expert surgeons from around the world, offers pearls of wisdom on how to improve the surgical outcome and how to reduce unnecessary complications. The book is designed so that it covers all common thoracic operations in both adults and children as well as dealing with much rarer indications. It includes a discussion on the complications of surgery and provides specific tips on how to avoid intra-operative and postoperative complications. Tips and Tricks in Thoracic Surgery is a fully illustrated, comprehensive text aimed at qualified and trainee thoracic surgeons.