In this book are discussed topics of particular importance to critical care cardiovascular diagnosis and management in the perioperative period. Chapter topics are the causes for heart failure; the pathophysiology of heart failure; coronary heart disease and ischemic preconditioning; hypertensive urgencies and emergencies; diagnosis of heart failure; preoperative cardiac risk assessment; hemodynamic monitoring in patients with heart failure; electrocardiography of heart failure - features and arrhythmias; pharmacologic management for patients with heart failure; devices for management of heart failure; pacemaker and internal cardioverter-defibrillator therapies; management of cardiopulmonary arrest; circulatory shock - anaphylactic, cardiogenic, haemorrhagic, septic; prevention and management of cardiac dysfunction during and after cardiac surgery; vasodilator therapy - systemic and pulmonary; and, thromboembolism and anticoagulation. This work represents an important update for anaesthesiologists, cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, emergency care physicians and intensivists caring for patients with acute, life-threatening cardiovascular afflictions.