Pathophysiology, Evaluation and Management of Valvular Heart Diseases

Diseased heart valves are a growing public health concern, ranging among the most important causes of heart failure and sudden death. This volume reviews the most current information on valvular disease pathophysiology, epidemiology and evaluation as well as management strategies for affected patients. Topics discussed include data supporting selection of asymptomatic patients for valve surgery, methods employed in evaluating patients for this purpose, surgical methods and valve prostheses currently applied for valve repair and replacement, and criteria for selecting among them. Adjunctive problems such as aortic root disease, infective endocarditis and arrhythmias that may modify patient management are also considered. Epidemiologic data illustrate the increasing prevalence of valvular disease in the population. In addition, the book reviews new and emerging knowledge about the molecular and cellular basis of myocardial dysfunction and heart failure in various forms of valvular disease, and new information about the potential roles of alternative medicine, blood conservation and minimally invasive surgical techniques. A particular highlight is a 'debate' between paired chapters on the appropriateness of mitral valve surgery for patients with less than severe mitral regurgitation of ischemic etiology. Compiling the most up-to-date and authoritative information in the field, this book will be of great value not only to cardiologists and cardiac surgeons, but also to medical students, medical and surgical residents, cardiology and cardiac surgery fellows and general internists.