Congestive Heart Failure And Cardiac Transplantation

This book is a comprehensive overview of heart failure and cardiac transplantation and integrates scientific and clinical information about the physiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of this disorder. Organized into five parts, it reviews the history and basic mechanisms of heart failure; etiology of heart failure; heart failure disease progression; advanced therapies for heart failure; and cardiac transplantation. The book presents basic concepts in the physiology, molecular biology, pathology, and epidemiology of the normal and failing heart; known causes of heart failure, such as right heart failure, valvular cardiomyopathy, molecular mechanisms of sarcomeric cardiomyopathies, and neuromuscular cardiomyopathy; cardiorenal syndrome; neurohormonal activation; cardiac resynchronization, ventricular assist devices; regenerative mechanisms; orthotopic heart transplantation; early and late management of the post-transplant patient; heart transplantation and antibody-mediated rejections; heart-lung transplantation; and cardiac xenotransplantation. Featuring contributions from leaders in the fields of heart failure, cardiac transplantation, cardiac pathology, and cardiovascular molecular research, Congestive Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplantation is a valuable compendium for cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, researchers, trainees, and students.

Heart failure is epidemic throughout the world. A growing incidence and prevalence has resulted in a large population of individuals transitioning to advanced stages of the syndrome and requiring uniquely specialised therapies and cardiac transplantation. i The Oxford Textbook of Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplantationr is a focused and comprehensive work covering this new and rapidly growing cardiovascular subspecialty. Authored by eminent international experts, it is the authoritative text on advanced heart failure and a central resource for clinicians caring for patients with this condition. By covering a range of characteristics, therapeutic challenges and practical aspects of managing patients, this book provides an in-depth source for cardiologists and other related clinicians. A strong focus on the difficult decision making needed to handle advanced heart failure cases, along with specific knowledge of epidemiology, biology and pathophysiology, creates a key tool for optimally managing these complex patients.

This comprehensively covers everything from pathophysiology to the evaluation of patients presenting with heart failure to medical management, device therapy, heart transplantation and mechanical circulatory support, and include relevant cardiac imaging studies such as echocardiograms and magnetic resonance imaging studies which could be seen in their entirety as well as pathology slides, hemodynamic tracings and videos of cardiac surgery such as heart transplants and ventricular assist device implantation. Finally, the book would have videos of patients with heart failure, heart transplants or ventricular assist devices, describing their clinical presentation and experiences. It is structured so that it can be used as a guide by physicians studying for the general Cardiology or Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplantations Boards.

James C. Fang, MD, and Gregory S. Couper, MD, have assembled a panel of prominent surgeons and cardiologists to review the latest clinical, scientific, and investigational surgical and mechanical approaches to heart failure in hopes of improving the lives of this challenging group of patients. Topics range from such traditional strategies as high-risk surgical revascularization in advanced coronary artery disease, to more novel approaches such as ventricular reconstruction and mechanical assist devices. Many chapters are contributed by the original pioneers of specific surgical techniques, which provide s invaluable perspective from personal experience.

Despite all efforts and success in medical treatment, the incidence of (end-stage) chronic heart failure is increasing. Cardiac transplantation remains the only definite option; however, due to the shortage of donor organs, very few people benefit. Therefore, surgery of end-stage heart failure using conventional techniques has gained new interest after the introduction of the Batista operation. However, a clear surgical identification of the patients to be included in this group is lacking. Left ventricular reduction surgery as well as reduction of the base of the heart using mitral annuloplasty or mitral valve replacement, sparing both papillary muscles, is used in selected patients with satisfying results and good survival. Long-term mechanical support with subsequent surgical remodeling or supporting myoplasty may result in a beneficial alternative to heart transplantation.

Cardiac transplantation is a widely accepted therapy for the treatment of end-stage congestive heart failure. Most candidates for cardiac transplantation have not been helped by conventional medical therapy and are excluded from other surgical options because of the poor condition of the heart. About 45% of the candidates have ischemic cardiomyopathy; however, this percentage is rising because of the increase in coronary artery disease in younger age groups. Of the candidates, 54% have some form of dilated cardiomyopathy, which often has an unclear origin. The remaining 1% of candidates fall into the category of other diseases, including congenital heart disease, that are not amenable to surgical correction. Candidacy determination and evaluation are key components of the process, as is post-operative follow-up care and immunosuppression management. This book presents leading research from around the world.

This is a concise review of up-to-date concepts and techniques in the discipline of heart transplantation. It is a review and reference for practitioners managing patients with advanced heart disease, including patients with end-stage heart failure, mechanical circulatory support or transplant recipients. Heart failure is a major public health issue, with a prevalence of over 5.8 million in the USA, and over 23 million worldwide, and rising. The lifetime risk of developing heart failure is one in five. Heart failure carries substantial morbidity and mortality, with 5-year mortality that rival those of many cancers. As heart transplantation remains the best treatment option for patients with end stage heart failure, this primer will provide valuable information and management strategies for physicians caring for these patients. Also, due to continued shortage in donor organs, heart transplantation is a limited resource – which further underscores the importance of appropriately evaluating patients for transplant candidacy and managing their pre, peri- and post-transplant care for maximum benefit and best outcomes.​

Despite the significant decline in heart disease mortaht>' rates over the last 25 years, heart failure has remained a significant problem. We are now confronted with large numbers of terminally ill patients for whom conventional therapies for heart failure have been exhausted and for whom repeated hospital visits are necessary. There now is a major thrust towards a management strategy which embraces a comprehensive approach including vigorous preventive measures and earlier surgical interventions. This book outlines the major surgical options for the treatment of heart failure and brings together a very broad base of opinions with contributions from several outstanding individuals. With the improved knowledge and techniques to control rejection, transplantation has become the central pillar in the surgical management of this group of patients. Unfortunately, because of limited donor supply the teclmique cannot be applied to large numbers of patients. A great deal of excitement, however, exists in the potential for xenotransplantation as a supplement to homotransplantation. The use of cardiac assist devices has become a reality with several hundred LVADS and BiVADS implanted throughout the world and cardiac replacement with total artificial hearts continues to be used successfully as a bridge to transplantation. We are on the thieshold of the broad application of assist devices to provide prolonged relief of heart failure and restore patients to an ambulatoiy home environment and hopefully return to the work force in significant numbers.