oxford handbook of cardiothoracic surgery procedures

There is a chapter devoted to epidemiology, in which they summarize the causes of the significant increase in the number and complexity of patients.

In the first, by way of introduction, the authors outline some updated information on general points. The handbook contains 260 pages and is divided into three separate parts. Regarding the content, this new edition provides detailed information on specific defects the chapters on general considerations have been retained, with the addition of some new, highly-relevant topics that include epidemiology, heart failure, device therapy, and transition and transfer of care. This publication features an updated format, with more illustrations and diagrams. The handbook, in its second edition, is edited by Sara Thorne and Sarah Bowater, physicians with broad experience in the treatment of adult congenital heart disease, who work at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, UK. The main characteristic of this pocket handbook is that it is summarized and concise, and therefore should not be evaluated as an in-depth study manual on the subject, but as a practical tool that allows rapid access to information. The wide variety of types of congenital heart disease and their specific complications always pose an enormous challenge for the authors of a publication on this subject. In addition, this increase has occurred principally in moderate- and high-complexity heart disease, which confers an added difficulty to the anatomical and functional concepts for the adult cardiologist, who may not be used to such patients. 1 This explains why the number of adult patients has increased exponentially and currently outnumbers the pediatric population. Until a few decades ago, less than 20% of children born with congenital heart disease survived to adult life, while today it is estimated that the survival is close to 90%, thanks to the continuing improvement in diagnostic investigations, surgical techniques and general pediatric care. Of the different types of congenital heart disease, we know that neonatal malformations are the most common, being found in around 1% of live newborns. This publication is particularly timely given the unique characteristics of this population and the huge increase in the number of patients that will reach adulthood in the coming years. It is always good to hear that a new book has been published on congenital heart disease, especially in adults.

Oxford handbook of cardiothoracic surgery procedures