It is very likely that you or someone you love is one of the 30 million people worldwide who has the 'irregularly irregular' heartbeat of atrial fibrillation. Or, it is possible that you may be among the people who do not realise they have this highly unpredictable condition, the impact of which can range from inconvenience to blackout, heart failure or stroke. An ageing population and our Western lifestyle are ensuring that the prevalence of atrial fibrillation, often referred to by its initials, AF, is increasing at such a rate that it is predicted to be the next cardiac epidemic. Despite it being so widespread, AF does not allow a one-treatment-for-all approach. While it can be managed, currently AF cannot be cured, so you could have it for a long time. Atrial Fibrillation Explained is a must-read for sufferers and those who care about them, medical practitioners and anyone planning to live into a healthy, old age. Having a better understanding of AF as a disease and learning about its treatment will open up meaningful conversations between patients and their medical practitioners, leading to greater insight into the best way to look after the condition in personal sets of circumstances. This book is a must-read for you.

One of the most time-consuming tasks in clinical medicine is seeking the opinions of specialist colleagues. There is a pressure not only to make referrals appropriate but also to summarize the case in the language of the specialist. This book explains basic physiologic and pathophysiologic mechanisms of cardiovascular disease in a straightforward manner, gives guidelines as to when referral is appropriate, and, uniquely, explains what the specialist is likely to do. It is ideal for any hospital doctor, generalist, or even senior medical student who may need a cardiology opinion, or for that ma.

Following the structure and format of the ESC core syllabus, this text introduces key concepts in the field of cardiovascular medicine.

Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation Edited by Etienne Aliot, MD, FESC, FACC, FHRS Chief of Cardiology, Hôpital Central, University of Nancy, France Michel Haïssaguerre, MD Chief of Electrophysiology, Hôpital Cardiologique du Haut-Lévêque, France Warren M. Jackman, MD Chief of Electrophysiology, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, USA In this text, internationally recognized authors explore and explain the advances in basic and clinical electrophysiology that have had the greatest impact on catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). Designed to assist in patient care, stimulate research projects, and continue the remarkable advances in catheter ablation of AF, the book covers: the fundamental concepts of AF, origin of signals, computer simulation, and updated reviews of ablation tools the present practical approaches to the ablation of specific targets in the fibrillating atria, including pulmonary veins, atrial neural network, fragmented electrograms, and linear lesions, as well as the strategies in paroxysmal or chronic AF or facing left atrial tachycardias the special challenge of heart failure patients, the impact of ablation on mortality, atrial mechanical function, and lessons from surgical AF ablation Richly illustrated by numerous high-quality images, Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation will help every member of the patient care team.

The breadth and range of the topics covered, and the consistent organization of each chapter, give you simple but detailed access to information on anatomy, diagnostic criteria, differential diagnosis, mapping, and ablation. the book includes a unique section on troubleshooting difficult cases for each arrhythmia, and the use of tables, illustrations, and high-quality figures is unmatched among publications in the field.

This compendium gives a comprehensive overview of the advances in fibrillation-defibrillation knowledge — recognition of fibrillation as a unique life threatening cardiac arrhythmia; discovery of the electric discharge in its double role of culprit and savior; and technological improved contributions.The book stands on the well-known philosophy of Education-Based on Problems (or EBP), that is, take fibrillation as a medical daily problem and search for that knowledge, technique or principle trying to solve it.The book is interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary. It addresses undergraduate and graduate biomedical engineering students, physicians going into cardiology, clinical engineers and clinical engineering technicians, nurses, paramedics and emergency medical personnel.

A Library Journal Best Consumer Health Book of 2010 Heart rhythm problems can be a matter of life or death. In this easy-to-read guide, Dr. Todd Cohen provides comprehensive information to help people with heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias) get an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Dr. Cohen tells readers what they need to know about palpitations, rapid heart rhythms (tachycardias), slow heart rhythms (bradycardias), cardiac arrest, and other conditions related to irregular heartbeats. With the goal of informing and empowering heart patients, Dr. Cohen describes the heart's basic function, the various conditions associated with arrhythmia, and recommended courses of treatment. He discusses such procedures as tilt table testing, electrophysiology studies, catheter ablation, and device implantation (including cardiac monitors, pacemakers, defibrillators, and biventricular devices); explains the essentials of CPR and the use of Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs); and presents the latest guidelines from the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association, and the Heart Rhythm Society. A Patient's Guide to Heart Rhythm Problems will help readers understand • how the heart works and what can go wrong • the tests and other diagnostic procedures they may undergo • how their doctor reaches a diagnosis • what their diagnosis means • how their doctor might treat the problem • when medication alone is sufficient treatment • when pacemaker, defibrillator, or biventricular therapy is appropriate • how to get the best possible medical care—in and out of the hospital Endorsed by the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association, this essential resource features tables highlighting key information, as well as patient narratives that provide personal insight into arrhythmia tests, treatments, and technologies.