This monograph is intended to compile the lectures presented at the 4th Annual Symposium "Cardiac Surgery:1992" held at the Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, November 7-10, 1991. This symposium was organized by the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery and the School of Cardiovascular Perfusion, Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center, Camden, New Jersey and sponsored by the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Camden, Philadelphia Academy of Cardiovascular Perfusion and the American Society of Extracorporeal Technology -Region II. The symposium was devoted to cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiologists, cardiovascular perfusionists, and nurses involved in the management of the cardiac surgical patient. Therefore, the context of the book represents the multidisciplinary nature of cardiac surgery at its present level of development. The contributors to this book have critically examined their experience and discussed controversial issues regarding cardiac pathophysiology, surgical indications, operative techniques, and long term care and outcome. The co-editors wish to express their gratitude for the contributors' efforts in the production of this manuscript. We would also like to thank the members of the Organizing Committee, Jane V. Stewart MSN, RN, CCRN, Roger A. Vertrees BA, CCP, Rosemary Volosin, MSN, RN, Rosemary Morrone and Paul R. Cappola BS, CCP, who have greatly contributed to the success of the symposium."

The topics in this book represent the presentations given at the First and Second Annual Meetings entitled "Critical Issues in Surgery" held at the Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort, st. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, November 1992 and 1993. This symposium was sponsored by the Department of Surgery, and the Department of Nursing Education and Quality Assurance of Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center, the University of Medicine and Den tistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Camden, New Jersey, as well as the Academy of Medicine of New Jersey. Chapter authors were charged with the task of writing brief overviews of major issues related to the field of general surgery and critical care medicine. The book is specifically tailored to the needs of general surgeons, allied health professionals and nursing personnel involved in all phases of caring for the surgical patient. Although intended as a reference source with emphasis on up-dated approaches applied in general surgery, it is hoped that the discussion of these topics will compliment other texts and manuscripts. Obviously, a book of this length cannot cover the whole multidiSCiplinary and complex field of surgery. However, the co-editors are certain that the annual appearance of this text will highlight comprehensive, new and interesting approaches to the field of surgery."

The topicS in this book represent the presentations given at the Fifth Annual Meeting entitled "Cardiac Surgery: Current Issues" held at the Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort. St. Thomas. U.S. Virgin Islands. November 11-14. 1992. This symposium was sponsored by the Division of Cardiothoracic Sur gery. the School of Cardiovascular Perfusion and the Department of Nursing Education and QUality Assurance of Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center. the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Camden. New Jersey. as well as the Academy of Medicine of New Jersey. Chapter authors were charged with the task of writing brief overviews of major issues related to the field of cardiac surgery. The book is specifically tailored to the needs of cardiothoracic surgeons. cardiovascular perfusionists. allied health professionals and nursing personnel involved in all phases of caring for the cardiac surgical patient. Although intended as a reference source with emphasis on up-dated approaches applied in cardiac surgery. it is hoped that the discussion of these topics will compliment other texts and manuscripts. Obviously.';ibook of this length cannot cover the whole multidiSciplinary and complex field of cardiac surgery. However. co-editors are certain that the annual appearance of this text will highlight comprehensive. new and interesting approaches to the field of cardiac surgery."

The topics in this book represent the presentations given at the Fifth Annual Meeting entitled "Cardiac Surgery: Current Issues" held at the Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, November 18-20, 1993. This symposium was sponsored by the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, the School of Cardiovascular Perfusion and the Department of Nursing Education and Quality Assurance of Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Camden, New Jersey, as well as the Academy of Medicine of New Jersey. Chapter authors were charged with the task of writing brief overviews of major issues related to the field of cardiac surgery. The book is specifically tailored to the needs of cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiovascular perfusion ists, allied health professionals and nursing personnel involved in all phases of caring for the cardiac surgical patient. Although intended as a reference source with emphasis on up-dated approaches applied in cardiac surgery, it is hoped that the discussion of these topiCS will compliment other texts and manuscripts. Obviously, a book of this length cannot cover the whole multidisciplinary and complex field of cardiac surgery. However, co-editors are certain that the annual appearance of this text will highlight comprehensive, new and Interesting approaches to the field of cardiac surgery."

The topics in this book represent the presentations given at the Seventh Annual Meeting entitled "Cardiac Surgery: Current Issues," held at the Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, November 9-12, 1994. This symposium was sponsored by the American College of Chest Physicians in conjunction with the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery of Cooper HospitallUniversity Medical Center, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Camden, New Jersey. Chapter authors were charged with the task of writing brief overviews of major issues related to the field of cardiac surgery. The book is specifically tailored to the needs of cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiovascular perfusionists, allied health professionals, and nurs ing personnel involved in all phases of caring for the cardiac surgical patient. Although intended as a reference source with emphasis on updated approaches applied in cardiac surgery, it is hoped that the discussion of these topics will compliment other texts and manuscripts. Obviously, a book of this length cannot cover the whole multidisciplinary and complex field of cardiac surgery. However, co-editors are certain that the annual appearance of this text will highlight comprehensive, new, and interesting approaches to the field of cardiac surgery. The co-editors are greatly thankful to the contributors for their efforts in providing comprehensive chapters. Without their expertise, this work may not have been possible. We would also like to thank Ms. Eileen Birmingham and the staff at Plenum Publishing Corporation for their tremendous help in completing this work.