This book provides a guide to the assessment of patient reported outcomes measures and quality of life in cardiovascular interventions, which have become a fundamental component of decision making in bedside medicine, health policy, health economics, and public health. Cardiac surgery, cardiovascular interventions, vascular interventions, and the core principles of quality of life are all covered. This book is the first book to demonstrate how clinicians and policy makers can easily get access to a single source of quality of life and patient reported outcomes measures evidence to help them make the best informed decisions in the field of cardiovascular interventions. This is a rapidly emerging field and the book would be relevant to doctors, healthcare scientists, allied-health professionals, healthcare managers, medical statisticians, healthcare economists, and consultants working in healthcare.

Despite numerous reports of cerebral damage in cardiac surgery, the subject has not been given the attention it requires. This book, with a preface by Torkel Aberg, will remedy that situation. The causes and incidence of pre- and post-operative cerebral damage are considered in the first section. Cardiac surgery patients frequently have preoperative cerebral impairment, not suprising when one considers the impaired circulation from a damaged heart and the brain's prodigious need for blood. Moreover, several perioperative aspects of surgical procedures have been considered as possible causes of cerebral dysfunction, for example: microbubbles, toxic by-products, non-pulsatile blood flow. The second section describes how imaging techniques (CT scan, MRI, regional cerebral blood flow imaging), and functional assessment techniques. (PET scan, EEG, BEAM and evoked potentials) can be used to measure cerebral damage. In the third section, psychometric and neuropsychological techniques are used to assess impaired mental abilities (abstract thinking, language, memory, visuo-spatial ability, mental flexibility, attention and concentration). The final section explores the relationship between cerebral dysfunction and psychopathology (several types of depression, anxiety, and aspects of organic brain syndrome, delirium and dementia).

This book provides a guide to the assessment of quality of life and patient reported outcomes measures in general surgery. The rapidly emerging field helps contextualise patients and helps the decision-making process within health economics, bedside medicine, public health, and health policy. All subspecialties of general surgery are covered, as well as the core principles of quality of life. The book aims to demonstrate how clinicians and policymakers can easily get access to a single source of patient reported outcomes measures and quality of life evidence to help them make the best-informed decisions in the field of general surgery. This book is relevant to healthcare managers, doctors, allied health professionals, healthcare scientists, consultants, healthcare economists, and medical statisticians working in healthcare.

Now in its 4th edition, Kirklin/Barratt-Boyes Cardiac Surgery remains your indispensable source for definitive, state-of-the-art answers on every aspect of adult and pediatric cardiac surgery. This dynamic medical reference thoroughly and systematically covers the full range of new and classic surgical procedures—including the latest alternate and minimally invasive surgical techniques—and presents the up-to-date clinical evidence you need to make effective management decisions. - Be certain with expert, dependable, accurate answers for every stage of your career from the most comprehensive, definitive text in the field! - Get comprehensive coverage of all areas of cardiac surgery, including ischemic, valvular, and congenital heart disease; cardiac tumors; constrictive pericarditis; thoracic aortic surgery; cardiac transplantation; coronary artery disease; aortic valve disease; cardiac rhythm disturbances; heart failure and transplantation; disease of the thoracic aorta; tetralogy of Fallot; anesthesia; and postoperative care. - Stay current with the latest advancements and practices. Comprehensive updates throughout include new information on endovascular management of thoracic aorta disease; new data on clinical outcomes; the most recent minimally invasive procedures; non-invasive CT angiography; new alternative surgical approaches to mitral valve surgery; and many other hot topics! - Make the most well-informed decisions and achieve optimal outcomes by exploring each condition's natural history; diagnostic criteria; indications for surgery; operative techniques; and follow-up care. - Reference information quickly thanks to a new, streamlined format. - Visually grasp and better understand critical information with the aid of a new, full-color design that includes an abundance of detailed charts and graphs. - Stay current with the latest advancements and practices. Comprehensive updates throughout include new information on endovascular management of thoracic aorta disease; new data on clinical outcomes; the most recent minimally invasive procedures; non-invasive CT angiography; new alternative surgical approaches to mitral valve surgery; and many other hot topics! - Reference information quickly thanks to a new, streamlined format and easily searchable online access to the complete text, downloadable image library, reference links, and more at www.expertconsult.com.

The topics in this book represent the presentations given at the Seventh Annual Meeting entitled "Cardiac Surgery: Current Issues," held at the Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, November 9-12, 1994. This symposium was sponsored by the American College of Chest Physicians in conjunction with the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery of Cooper HospitallUniversity Medical Center, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Camden, New Jersey. Chapter authors were charged with the task of writing brief overviews of major issues related to the field of cardiac surgery. The book is specifically tailored to the needs of cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiovascular perfusionists, allied health professionals, and nurs ing personnel involved in all phases of caring for the cardiac surgical patient. Although intended as a reference source with emphasis on updated approaches applied in cardiac surgery, it is hoped that the discussion of these topics will compliment other texts and manuscripts. Obviously, a book of this length cannot cover the whole multidisciplinary and complex field of cardiac surgery. However, co-editors are certain that the annual appearance of this text will highlight comprehensive, new, and interesting approaches to the field of cardiac surgery. The co-editors are greatly thankful to the contributors for their efforts in providing comprehensive chapters. Without their expertise, this work may not have been possible. We would also like to thank Ms. Eileen Birmingham and the staff at Plenum Publishing Corporation for their tremendous help in completing this work.

Now in its 4th edition, Kirklin/Barratt-Boyes Cardiac Surgery remains your indispensable source for definitive, state-of-the-art answers on every aspect of adult and pediatric cardiac surgery. This dynamic medical reference thoroughly and systematically covers the full range of new and classic surgical procedures-including the latest alternate and minimally invasive surgical techniques-and presents the up-to-date clinical evidence you need to make effective management decisions. Be certain with expert, dependable, accurate answers for every stage of your career from the most comprehensive, definitive text in the field! Get comprehensive coverage of all areas of cardiac surgery, including ischemic, valvular, and congenital heart disease; cardiac tumors; constrictive pericarditis; thoracic aortic surgery; cardiac transplantation; coronary artery disease; aortic valve disease; cardiac rhythm disturbances; heart failure and transplantation; disease of the thoracic aorta; tetralogy of Fallot; anesthesia; and postoperative care. Stay current with the latest advancements and practices. Comprehensive updates throughout include new information on endovascular management of thoracic aorta disease; new data on clinical outcomes; the most recent minimally invasive procedures; non-invasive CT angiography; new alternative surgical approaches to mitral valve surgery; and many other hot topics! Make the most well-informed decisions and achieve optimal outcomes by exploring each condition's natural history; diagnostic criteria; indications for surgery; operative techniques; and follow-up care. Reference information quickly thanks to a new, streamlined format and easily searchable online access to the complete text, downloadable image library, reference links, and more at expertconsult.com. Visually grasp and better understand critical information with the aid of a new, full-color design that includes an abundance of detailed charts and graphs. Stay current with the latest advancements and practices. Comprehensive updates throughout include new information on endovascular management of thoracic aorta disease; new data on clinical outcomes; the most recent minimally invasive procedures; non-invasive CT angiography; new alternative surgical approaches to mitral valve surgery; and many other hot topics! Reference information quickly thanks to a new, streamlined format and easily searchable online access to the complete text, downloadable image library, reference links, and more at www.expertconsult.com.

Cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States and many other countries, confers substantial risk for cerebrovascular events, such as stroke and vascular dementia. The neuropsychological sequelae of such conditions are well documented and can have a devastating impact on individuals' quality of life. However, prior to the development of overt cerebrovascular complications, persons with cardiovascular disease or its risk factors may display mild to severe neuropsychological difficulties. Medical and surgical treatments for cardiovascular disease have also been found to affect neuropsychological function. This landmark volume offers the first comprehensive overview of the neuropsychological consequences of cardiovascular disease, tracking its natural history, epidemiology, and treatments. It encourages researchers and clinicians to consider all relevant facets of vascular disease processes in their evaluation, study, and treatment of affected patients and indicates a need for primary and secondary prevention efforts. Neuropsychology of Cardiovascular Disease will be welcomed as an invaluable resource by neuropsychologists, specialists in behavioral medicine, neurologists, cardiologists, epidemiologists, gerontologists, and many other health professionals whose work brings them into contact with these challenging patients.

The chapters in this book focus on the physical, social, and emotional components of the concept of quality of life. How diseases affect the quality of life of people is mainly discussed. The influence of diseases on quality of life in age-specific periods such as childhood, youth, and old age is also emphasized. In some non-disease-related environmental factors, specific social phenomena have also been analyzed. I hope that current research and research results in the book will be used to increase the quality of life by health professionals. This book will attract not only health workers but also environmentalists and social scientists and behavioral scientists.

Cardiothoracic Surgery in the Elderly: Evidence Based Practice is an important and timely book that reflects the thoughtful work of pioneers in geriatric surgery. It encompasses their knowledge related to geriatric surgery, and their reflections and guidance on the rapidly accumulating knowledge related to improving the health and surgical care of seniors. This book provides a scholarly review of the constantly expanding knowledge base about cardiovascular and thoracic surgery in seniors. The book follows a logical sequence covering general aspects of care, cardiac surgery and thoracic surgery. Chapters are focused on common, devastating and often missed complications of surgical care in the seniors. These include delirium, depression, pressure sores, functional losses, incontinence, volume depletion and asymptomatic or atypical complications -myocardial infarction, post-operative diarrhea, urinary track infections and pneumonia. Each is expertly reviewed. Strategies to help the surgeons and the surgical team anticipate, recognize and effectively prevent or manage such problems are discussed and the evidence basis for such strategies is provided. Cardiothoracic Surgery in the Elderly: Evidence Based Practice is particularly timely and the first to review the substantial body of knowledge that has been developed in recent years related to geriatric cardiothoracic surgical problems. It catalogs well the expanding knowledge basis for achieving successful surgical outcomes in the very old. It provides a most useful resources for cardiovascular thoracic surgeons in training and those already in practice.