In this of the best book, Drs. Cra...

In this of the best book, Drs. Cranefield and Aronson have tackled an enormous topic, and done it well. Written in textbook mode the book discusses elegantly the mechanisms of cardiac arrhythmias with an emphasis upon triggered activity. Other mechanisms (ie, reentry abnormal automaticity) are also discussed in a detail. The authors begin with a discussion of the resting membrane potential and conduction of the cardiac impulse. They tread on the heels of with a discussion of the part of afterdepolarizations--both early and delayed--first discussing an of the more basic investigations (voltage-clamp techniques, part of intracellular calcium, the mitral valve and coronary sinus, etc) The authors then impel to topics of more interest to the clinician like as arrhythmias induced by ischemia and myocardial infarction, ventricular tachycardia, the drawn out QT syndrome and torsade de pointes, supraventricular arrhythmias, and the imports of antiarrhythymic agents and other medicines on afterdepolarizations. They extremity the text with a recapitulation, with emphasis onward what they consider to be the important points of the text

The volume is authoritative and, because it is not a multi-authored paragraph benefits from the uniformity of writing pattern that is frequently lost in multiauthored clauses The discussions are well referenc and include fresh references (through 1988). united feels as though the authors are talking to the reader, and in several areas of the theme personal communications are interjected to help clarify the main points and to lay the discussion into perspective. Studies from the literature are not rarely referenced and quoted directly, presumably to avoid the vexed question of misinterpreting other investigators' data. Unfortunately, this adds considerably to the longitudinal dimensions of the text, which in a scarcely any section is somewhat wordy. However, this is a small and insignificant "negative" in a volume full of "positives". Dr Cranefield and Aronson are to be congratualted for writing a passage that takes the reader by the agency of the hand and walks him between the sides of the literature of the mechanisms of cardiac arrhythmias. This topic will be valuable to the pair basic and clinical investigators and physicians in practice, because of its wide view It is one of the best available forward this subject. It carefully reviews what is known regarding the mechanisms of cardiac arrhythmias, and does in such a manner in a very readable and cohesive fashion. This main division is highly recommended to physicians who are interested in learning what is known about this important and timely subject

Lawrence s Klein, M.D. Indianapolis

COPYRIGHT 1989 American association of Chest Physicians

COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group