Each year, over 250,000 heart valve repair and heart valve replacement operations are performed for conditions including stenosis, prolapse, insufficiency, aneurysm, Tetralogy of Fallot and regurgitation. However, most patients and caregivers surveyed felt their expectations were mismanaged - both before and after surgery. The Patient's Guide to Heart Valve Surgery was written by Adam Pick, a double heart valve surgery patient, to address this troubling issue and prepare the patient and caregiver for the challenges and opportunities of valve surgery - from diagnosis through recovery.

T e four heart valves reside in the center of the heart. T is indicates their crucial role in cardiac performance. Fau- less function of the valves is a prerequisite for unidir- tional forward movement of the blood, and such function is necessary to support the ef orts of the cardiac atria and ventricles. Healthy heart valves function gracefully and of er mechanical durability. Bioengineers have to marvel at the biomechanical evolution of these perfectly placed valves. Heart valves can be involved in pathological processes, however, and only then do we realize just how indispensable they really are. At one time, serious valve disorders used to be a matter of life and death for patients. Only in recent decades have surgeons been able to reverse the ominous course of heart valve disease and of er patients a quality of life and life span comparable to that of healthy persons. T e story of this ef ort began approximately 100 years ago, and today heart valve surgery is a substantial subspecialty of cardiac surgery, with accumulated experience in indications, procedures, risks, and outcomes. T e aim of this book is to present a richly illustrated compendium of the present knowledge related to heart valve surgery, based on the clinical expertise of the authors as well as the newest treatment modalities. T e authors thank Dr. Alireeza Matloobi from the Mayo Clinic for his help in preparating the book.

Following the recent publication of new guidelines by the European Society of Cardiology, this fully up-to-date work provides cardiologists and cardiac surgeons with the first comprehensive guide to post-operative management of patients who have undergone heart valve surgery. An international team of contributors, all recognized authorities in their field, and themselves contributors to the new guidelines, present evidence-based recommendations for managing a range of clinical problems in both adults and children, extending from immediate care in the hospital setting, through to long-term considerations for the primary care physician. Topics covered include: * rehabilitation * management of thrombosis * hemolysis * rheumatic fever * endocarditis * special considerations such as care of the patient undergoing non-cardiac surgery. Illustrated with numerous graphics, checklists and flow charts to enable readers to locate information rapidly and easily, Heart Valve Disease provides practical guidance on a range of common clinical scenarios, encompassing immediate post-operative care in the hospital as well as long-term management in the primary care settings.

A comforting, unique guide to the psychological aspects of open-heart surgery. From choosing and preparing for surgery to recovering in the hospital and at home, this guide explores the emotional and practical ramifications of heart surgery. 21 line drawings.

The definitive guide to heart health from two of America's most respected doctors at Cleveland Clinic, the #1 hospital for heart health in America. Are you one of the eighty-two million Americans currently diagnosed with cardiovascular disease—or one of the millions more who think they are healthy but are at risk? Whether your goal is to get the best treatment or stay out of the cardiologist’s office, your heart's health depends upon accurate information and correct answers to key questions. In Heart 411, two renowned experts, heart surgeon Marc Gillinov and cardiologist Steven Nissen, tackle the questions their patients have raised over their decades of practice: Can the stress of my job really lead to a heart attack? How does exercise help my heart, and what is the right amount and type of exercise? What are the most important tests for my heart, and when do I need them? How do symptoms and treatments differ among men, women, and children? Backed by decades of clinical experience and up-to-the-minute research, yet written in the accessible, down-to-earth tone of your trusted family doctor, Heart 411 cuts through the confusion to give you the knowledge and tools you need to live a long and heart-healthy life.

This concise manual describes in detail how to perform a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure and provides cardiac surgeons and cardiologists with the foundation necessary to begin practicing TAVR. It includes background on the landmark data establishing the field of TAVR, instructions in the pre- and post-operative management of TAVR patients, and technical descriptions of the newest and most common devices and how to use them. Written by leaders in the field, it offers an unbiased, academic review and describes the experience of colleagues who have learned through trial and error. The Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Manual is an essential resource for physicians and related professionals, residents, fellows, and graduate students in cardiology, cardiac surgery, thoracic surgery, and vascular surgery