Dawn and Evolution of Cardiac Procedures

Part I: Research on Cardiac Surgery and Catheterization before the Advent of Cardiopulmonary Bypass: 1. From the ancient world to the modern era: Pathways of surgical and circulation research.- 2. The ignored birth of cardiac surgery. Pericardial effusion and heart wounds.- 3. Pulmonary embolism and chronic constrictive pericarditis.- 4. Research on cardiac catheterization. Focus on Stephan Hales, Arrigo Montanari, and Werner Forssmann.- 5. The relief of mitral valve stenosis. Research on mitral and tricuspid valve repair in Russia.- 6. The relief of aortic valve pathology. From Theodor Tuffier to Charles Hufnagel.- 7. First strategies for the treatment of aortic aneurysms and dissection.- 8. Research on the surgical treatment of ischemic heart disease.- 9. Research on circulatory assist devices, heterotypic and orthotopic heart transplantation.- 10. Congenital heart disease.- 11. Anesthesia and postoperative care before the advent of cardiopulmonary bypass.- Part II: Invention of the Cardiopulmonary Bypass Machine: 12. Ignored and visionary precursors: Focus on Alexis Carrel and Charles Lindbergh.- 13. Research on cardiopulmonary bypass in Europe.- 14. Research on cardiopulmonary bypass in the U.S.A. John H. Gibbon: Biographical notes, experiments, and realization of a dream.- Part III: Research on Cardiac Surgery after the Advent of Cardiopulmonary Bypass : The Evolution of Interventional Cardiology: 15. Coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary interventions.- 16. Research on coronary stenting.- 17. Percutaneous valvuloplasty.- 18. Research on interventional septum closure.- 19. Research and evolution of mechanical and biological prosthetic heart valves.- 20. Research on valve repair and valve sparing.- 21. Research on myocardial protection.- 22. Evolution of aortic vascular prosthesis: Surgical and endovascular.- 23. Research on hypothermia, circulatory arrest, and brain protection.- 24. Surgical and cardiological ablation of atrial fibrillation.- 25.

From the reviews:

"This is a comprehensive historical review, by 22 contributors, of the most important evolutionary developments in cardiac surgery up to the current era. The purpose is to present a historical account for research and a source of practical inspiration for upcoming generations of investigators to review and reevaluate past ideas and experiments. These laudatory aims are accomplished well. The book is aimed at current and future researchers in the field." (Nicholas P. Rossi, Doody's Book Reviews, April, 2013)