Heart Failure

Heart failure is an important and ever expanding sub-specialty of cardiology. Many health care professional bodies are now developing specialist expertise in heart failure. This is true for cardiologists in training, consultant cardiologists, care of the elderly and general physicians, cardiothoracic surgeons, primary care doctors, pharmacists and specialist nurses. With advances in medical therapy, the prognosis of the condition has improved dramatically. Whereas once heart failure was a pre-terminal diagnosis, now for many it is treatable. However, some patients remain symptomatic and at high risk of death despite maximal medical therapy. These patients can benefit from a range of novel device therapies. Of course for those who remain symptomatic despite optimal treatment, cardiac transplantation remains an option. This book comprehensively covers all aspects necessary to manage a patient with heart failure. It gives simple, clear advice on the diagnosis, investigation and treatment options available, highlighting the current evidence-base.The chapters provide concise and objective information to guide all health care professionals involved in modern day multi-disciplinary management of the syndrome.The book is set out logically to mirror the patient journey in heart failure. This book is the first practical manual of heart failure management that addresses the needs of all the health care professionals involved. The ultimate aim of this book is to facilitate the practice of optimal evidence-based management for heart failure patients.

Roy Gardner graduated from Dundee University in 1996. He is a specialist registrar in cardiology in Glasgow and has a specialist interest in heart failure. He was awarded an MD in 2006 for markers of prognosis in advanced heart failure and has a particular interest in the assessment of patients for cardiac transplantation. Theresa McDonagh graduated from Edinburgh University in 1987. She trained in Cardiology at the Western Infirmary, Glasgow. She was involved in the research into epidemiology of Left Ventricular Dysfunction in North Glasgow and early work on BNP as a biomarker in Heart Failure. Subsequently, she was appointed as a Senior Lecturer to run the Heart Failure Service for Glasgow Royal Infirmary and the Transplant Assessment Programme for Scotland. She has continued research into prognostic biomarkers in Heart Failure. Currently, she is the Clinical and Research lead for Heart Failure at the Royal Brompton Hospital, London, where she combines a clinical interest Heart Failure with clinical research. Niki Walker graduated from Glasgow University in 1993, 1996 and again in 2004. During the course of her PhD she studied ventricular arrythmia mechanisms in heart failure. She is currently a specialist registrar in Cardiology in the West of Scotland deanery.