51
Book Reviews
ThrombolyticTherapy for Acute Myocardial Infarction
By George J. Taylor
Blackwell Scientific Publications, Cambridge (1992)
240 pages, illustrated, $24.95
ISBN: 9-86542-200-1
This book is directed toward “doctors and nurses who treat
patients suffering from acute myocardial infarction.” The preface
clearly states that the information represents the opinions and ex-
perience of Dr.Taylor and his colleagues in treating over 2,000 pa-
tients with thrombolyhc therapy for acute myocardial infarction in
central Illinois. This is not meant to be a reference book rather, it
represents a simple, clear, personal testimonial which can easily
be read in a couple of evenings.
There are eleven chapters. The second chapter on the clinical
and electrocardiographic diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction
is a particularly excellent review and is supplemented by 23 ad-
ditional ECG tracings in an appendix. Likewise, chapters on in-
dications for treatment and organizing the emergency response are
filled with useful information. The pharmacology of thrombolyt-
ic agents is presented concisely and briefly. Other chapters discuss
adjunctive drug therapy, complications of thrombolytic therapy,
and managing the patient during the coronary care unit phase.
The 80 figures and 53 tables supplement the text nicely. A few
selected readings are recommended at the end of each chapter.
Forty-six thmmbolyhc trials from the literahm are briefly reviewed
in the first appendix and 18 publications by Dr. Taylor and col-
leagues are listed.
The single-author approach to this topic avoids redundancy and
makes the book very readable. It is somewhat irksome, however,
to repeatedly be referred to Dr. Taylor’s publications rather than to
earlier, larger, multicenter trial data. Personal opinion occasional-
ly contradicts clinical trial data and ACC/AHA Task Force rec-
ommendations on treating patients with acute myocardial infarc-
tion. Most notable is the approach to interventional therapy after
thrombolysis. The Prairie Cardiovascular Center strategy is to
transport patients on prophylactic lidocaine from community hos-
pitals 18 to 24 hours after treatment and to perform routine cardiac
catheterization on all patients 3&48 hours after treatment. My@
cardial viability is assessed by enzyme curves, the signal-averaged
ECG, and regional wall motion on contrast ventriculography.
Claiming that previous trials have not considered the risk of spon-
taneous silent ischemia, revascularization is performed 2-3 days
following acute myocardial infarction with 20% of patients re-
ceiving PTCA and 40% receiving bypass graft surgery.
With the exception of the interventional therapy chapter, which
does not reflect current treatment recommendations, this book,
as intended, is an excellent introduction to thrombolytic therapy
for medical students, nurses, and primary care physicians. Cardi-
ologists will prefer a more traditionally referenced in-depth dis-
cussion.
Eric R. Bates, M.D.
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine
Division of Cardiology
The University of Michigan Medical Center
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Clinical Electrocardiography:A Primary Care
Approach, 2nd Edition
By Ken Grauer and R. Whimey Curray
Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford (1 992)
602 pages, illustrated, $39.95
ISBN: 0-87489-594-4
This introduction to clinical electrocardiographydirects itself
to primary care physicians with front-line responsibility for de-
tecting serious disorders of the ECG for further decision-making.
The book provides a comprehensivepresentation of the underly-
ing basic principals of electrocardiography, always oriented to prac-
tical consequences for the practical user. The second part of the
book is mainly concerned with clinical applications and important
clinical conditions representing the main application of electro-
cardiography in practical medicine.
In a third part, a practical approach to when to use an ECG
and how to judge computerized ECG interpretation programs crit-
ically is provided. Of particular help is Part 4, which contains a
thorough self-examinationtest, providing the reader with an ex-
tensive set of electrocardiograms to determine personal level of
achievement.Finally, the appendix contains a particularly handy
reference guide to assist quick interpretation of the ECG.
Compared with other introductionsto clinical electrocardiog-
raphy, this book offers a very clear structure and a thorough in-
troduction to the underlying principals of electrocardiography. This
presents an interested reader with not just a tool, but also an under-
standing of some of the principals of electrocardiography. Thus, it
appears to be an excellent introduction also for medical students
and practitioners in the field of general medicine who are look-
ing for a readable yet still comprehensiveintroduction to the area
of clinical electrocardiography.
Johannes Brachmann, M.D.
Head, Electrophysiological Laboratory
Department of Internal Medicine Ill
Ruprecht-Karls-UniversiCit Heidelberg
Heidelberg, Germany
BOOKS RECEIVED
This listing acknowledges with appreciation the receipt ofbooks sent to Clinical
Cardiology. Books will be listed upon receipt in order to provide timely pub-
lishing information. Books of particular interest will be reviewed in Clinical
Cardiology as space permits.
Cardiac Mapping. Edited by Mohammad Shema, Martin Borggefe, Gunter
Breithardt, Wilhelm Haverkamp, and G e r h d Hindricks. 700 pages, illus-
trated. Mount Kisco, NY, Futura Publishing Company, 1993. $125.00.
Cardiac Toxicity after Treatment for Childhood Cancer. Edited by J.
Timothy Bricker, Daniel M. Green, and Giulio J. D’Angio. 133 pages, il-
lustrated. New York. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1993. $37.95.
Cardiology Pearls. By Blase A. Carabello,William L. Ballard, and Peter C.
Gazes. Series edited by Steven A. Sahn and John E. Heffner. 233 pages, il-
lustrated. Philadelphia Hanky & Belfus, Inc., 1994. $35.00.
Cardiovascular Applicationsof MagneticResonance. Edited by Gerald M.
Pohost, 459 pages, illustrated. Mount Kisco, NY, Futura Publishing
Company, 1993. $86.00.
(continued on next page)