Getting to the heart of the matter

Dx/Rx: heart failure.

Theo E Meyer, Dennis A Tighe. Boston: Jones and Bartlett, 2005 (ix + 100pp). ISBN 0 7637 2309 6

An extremely well written, compact manual, it covers all aspects of heart failure in five sections. An introduction that deals with definition, classification, risk factors, prevalence and prognosis is followed by sections on the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, assessment and management of heart failure. Throughout the book, excellent tables and diagrams complement the text.

I found the section about assessment very informative and thought the part on management contained useful practical information about the roles of different pharmacological and non-pharmacological agents used in the treatment of heart failure. Important results from various health failure trials are incorporated in a practical fashion, although in a book of this small size they cannot be presented or discussed in detail.

I would highly recommend this book to all doctors who deal with patients who have heart failure, and am looking forward to reading other books in the Dx/Rx Cardiology series.

Jitendra K VohraCardiologist Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, VIC