Cardiac surgeon John A. Elefteriades, one of "Men's Health" magazine's ten best doctors in America, shares moving patient stories and lessons about the human heart.
The human heart is a paradox, incredibly strong yet surprisingly fragile. And while stories that reveal its symbolic characteristics abound, there are far fewer that laud its physical capabilities, which are perhaps even more profound.
Dr. Elefteriades, one of the most respected cardiac surgeons in America, has treated more than 10,000 patients in his distinguished career. Now, for the first time, he shares fascinating stories of his most memorable patients and cases--patients who have challenged him technically and moved him emotionally, patients who have enriched his life and expanded his horizons while he cared for their hearts. By detailing heart conditions and cardiac reparative procedures with specific yet accessible medical narratives, Dr. Elefteriades encapsulates the beauty, complexity, and majesty of the human heart.
But there is far more to this organ--and these stories--than a collection of veins, arteries, and valves. These are stories of courage, miracles, and the bravery of patients (some famous and others not) and their families when facing nearly insurmountable challenges, offering a thought-provoking, informative, and at times heart-wrenching study of the resilience of both the human body and spirit.

The Must-Have Guide for Navigating the ICU. The House Officer's Guide to ICU Care is an eminently practical handbook for junior house officers, medical students, PAs, and nurses that offers nuts-and-bolts guidelines for optimal management of medical and surgical patients in the ICU setting. Using clear, straightforward language, the authors methodically guide clinicians through the decision-making process, first by outlining the pathophysiology of abnormalities seen in the ICU and then by explaining the principles underlying today's therapeutic measures and describing how these agents and devices are used to ensure safe patient recovery. While the text focuses on the postoperative cardiothoracic surgery patient, the principles and therapies covered are broadly relevant to all medical and general surgery ICU patients. This third edition has been thoroughly updated to include the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies, procedures, and practices, and covers everything the house officer needs to know to deliver safe, effective, front-line care - especially during those times when senior staff are not there to rely on. Updated references, self-assessment tools, and an Emergency Response Sheet of essential paradigms, drugs, and doses will ensure confident decision-making when it counts the most. For the house officer, this book gives you everything you need to know, and not a word more. Especially useful for: house officers and medical students embarking on ICU responsibilities,intensive care nurses and nurses in training physicians' assistants,and respiratory therapists.

Biomechanics of the Aorta: Modelling for Patient Care is a holistic analysis of the aorta towards its biomechanical description. The book addresses topics such as physiology, clinical imaging, tissue and blood flow modeling, along with knowledge that is needed in diagnostics, aortic rupture prediction, assist surgical planning, and more. It encompasses a wide range of topics from the basic sciences (Vascular biology, Continuum mechanics, Image analysis) to clinical applications, as well as describing and presenting computational studies and experimental benches to mimic, understand and propose the best treatment of aortic pathologies. The book begins with an introduction to the fundamental aspects of the anatomy, biology and physiopathology of the aorta and proceeds to present the main computational fluid dynamic studies and biomechanical and mechanobiological models developed over the last decade. With approaches, methodologies and findings from contributors all over the world, this new volume in the Biomechanics of Living Organs series will increase understanding of aortic function as well as improve the design of medical devices and clinical interventions, including surgical procedures.

New Approaches to Aortic Disease from Valve to Abdominal Bifurcation provides a complete look at aortic valve diseases from all points of view, including etiology, physiopathology, prevention, diagnosis and treatment. The book offers new insights into the aortic valve and pathology based on evidence of current diagnostic methods, treatments and post-surgery evolution. Content is split into three distinct parts for ease of reference, including an overview of aortic pathology, diagnostic evaluations methods, and treatments. Also included are guidelines and future research directions, making this a must-have volume for all cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons who address significant issues in this topic area.

A left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is a surgically implanted pump that helps the left ventricle pump blood to the rest of the body.? The purpose of this issue is to let cardiologists know about the latest devices, their complications, and the clinical situations in which they are most beneficial.

This issue is organized on a debate format, with experts in the field arguing the pros and cons of active controversies that challenge modern management of aortic disease.? Among the controversies discussed are genetic testing, use of biomarkers, optimal methods of brain protection in aortic arch surgery, and pre-enrollment echocardiogram to exclude aortic disease for all young adults engaging in vigorous athletic or strength training.

This textbook provides practical tips on the conduct of aortic surgery, from the aortic valve to the iliac arteries. It is organized as a series of Plates, each with a key central illustration, followed by bullet items of accompanying explanatory text. The accompanying text concentrates on specific, critical "do's and don'ts" that promote and enhance patient safety. Chapters include dozens of color illustrations by one of the nation's premier medical illustrators, along with selected classic "pen and ink" line drawings. Each central illustration is accompanied by additional secondary figures interspersed at intervals within the accompanying text. Each "practical tip" has an accompanying short (15-30 second) video demonstrating vividly the specific didactic point being made in each Plate. Chapters provide Q&A sections, to promote an interactive feel and experience. The textbook shares practical, potentially life-saving tips-gleaned from over three decades of experience in thousands of aortic operations-regarding virtually every standard operation that arises in aortic surgery. Practical Tips in Aortic Surgery will be an essential resource for surgeons and trainees at all levels of experience: residents and fellows, surgical physician assistants, surgical nurses and technicians, and medical students. The book directly targets two surgical specialties: Cardiac Surgery and Vascular Surgery