Management of Complex Cardiovascular Problems, 4th Edition

Book Preface

The modern cardiologist is confronted with a bewildering amount of new information. At last count there were more than one hundred cardiology journals. Many cardiology textbooks, covering every aspect of the field and dozens of symposia are published each year. The major cardiovascular centers all have their ‘in house’ publications, which emphasize their local accomplishments. In addition, industry bombards cardiologists withmany reviews, each placing the sponsor’s project and trial in the best light.

What the practicing cardiologist really needs is a text that emphasizes unbiased, up to date information and that places this information into an appropriate context. The third edition of Management of Complex Cardiovascular Problems, carefully edited by Dr. Nguyen, does precisely this.

Particularly new, reader friendly, features are the boxes of ‘Take Home Messages’ [Action Points in the Fourth Edition] which give succinct summaries of each chapter, together with Critical Thinking (new concepts); Evidence-Based Medicine (the key results of important clinical trials); and Clinical Pearls (advice from master clinicians).

This unique format provides busy cardiologists with an approach to deal with information overload and will thereby enhance the quality of care delivered to the cardiac patient. Thus, Dr. Thach Nguyen and his talented authors have again provided us with important ammunition for the war against heart disease. This fine book describes clearly some of the most difficult problems that cardiovascular specialists face, and it provides enormously helpful directions in dealing with them. This eminently readable book should be equally valuable to practicing cardiologists in the front lines of the battle against the global scourge of cardiovascular disease and to trainees in the field.

Eugene Braunwald, M.D.
Boston, Massachusetts