Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (CMR) is a rapidly expanding imaging method in cardiology which provides unparalleled diagnostic information about the heart. It is however a complex technique and though the availability of scanners is increasing quickly, the expertise required to perform the scans is limited. While no book is a substitute for experience, this handbook provides an invaluable guide to performing and interpreting the scans which should aid both new and experienced operators. Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance is an indispensable guide to performing and interpreting CMR scans. What to look for, which sequences to include, how to acquire them, and how to interpret the images are all included in the handbook. The information is provided in a quick-reference, easy-to-use format with many images from real cases, and is designed to sit on the scanning console or in the office, providing a step-by-step guide to aid the CMR practitioner at every stage. All areas of cardiovascular imaging are covered, including tips and tricks for optimal imaging and how to avoid and spot artefacts. From patient safety to differential diagnoses of tricky images, to an easy to understand section on the science behind magnetic resonance, all aspects are covered in this concise yet comprehensive guide to this specialist area. Whether a novice or expert in the field, all readers should find this book a useful tool. It is an invaluable reference that no CMR department should be without.

Disease of the heart valves is increasingly common and frequently requires treatment, usually a combination of drug therapy and surgery to repair or replace the valve. The majority of valvular heart disease occurs in older people, and is due to degenerative disease of the valve tissue. Understanding how to diagnose, investigate and manage patients with valvular heart disease is a core skill for a wide range of doctors, including cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, general physicians, general surgeons and anaesthetists. Valvular heart disease can also occur in younger patients and can be particularly challenging to diagnose and treat in pregnant women. New advances in cardiology mean a range of valvular heart disease can be treated with percutaneous procedures avoiding the need for full cardiac surgery. This unique text covers all aspects of valvular heart disease, including normal valve anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, modes of investigation, assessment and treatment of specific valve lesions, valve surgery (both medical and surgical aspects), treatment in pregnancy or during non-cardiac surgery, and the devastating complication of infective endocarditis, in an easy-to-read, accessible format. It contains over 150 high quality pictures and illustrations, providing contemporary diagnostic imaging (including conventional radiography, echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging) to demonstrate the importance of imaging in diagnosis and treatment. Individual valve lesions are reviewed in turn with specific indications for intervention in line with current European guidelines. The handbook complements the curriculum for specialist training in the UK, and is relevant to candidtaes in preparation for accreditation with the British Society of Echocardiography.