Manual of Heart Failure Management Paperback - 2009

From the rear cover

Heart Failure (HF) is a chronic progressive disease with less than 50 percent of patients living five years after their initial diagnosis, and less than 25 percent are alive at 10 years. Our current system of HF care, characterized by a cycle of acute hospitalizations and acute episodic outpatient care by a primary or emergency room provider, has not led to great improvement in patient quality of life or prognosis.

The Manual of Heart Failure Management provides readers with a concise evidence-based approach to key issues in the evaluation and treatment of heart failure. Important issues in prevention are explained, as well as the state of the art pharmacological and device (VAD) therapies that are available to clinicians. The role of pacemakers and implantable defibrillators are also assessed, and concise clinical guidelines are described. The recommendations within this manual are based around the current recommendations and guidelines for the treatment of heart failure.

By uniting each individual management concept into a comprehensive approach to HF, this book outlines the tremendous obstacles facing patients but also the advantages of dealing with the management of HF in a strategic way. Understanding the next step of treatment beyond your own caretaker abilities is critical for patient care and education, for changing public perception, and for translating research opportunities into treatment protocols for the future.