Clinical Guide to Cardiology provides practical, evidence-based information on interventions, investigations, and the management of clinical cardiology.

Table of Contents

• Contributors
• Acronyms and Abbreviations
• PART 1 Examination Techniques
• 1 Examination Techniques
• 1.1 Common conditions to be looked for on the examination
• 1.2 Clinical examination – peripheries
• 1.3 Clinical examination – the praecordium
• 1.4 How to present your findings
• 1.5 Eponymous signs and symptoms
• Note
• PART 2 Approach to Presenting Complaints
• 2 Chest Pain
• 2.1 Definition
• 2.2 Diagnostic algorithm
• 2.3 Differentials list
• 2.4 Key history features
• 2.5 Key examination features
• 2.6 Key investigations
• 2.7 When to call a senior
• Key clinical trials
• Guidelines
• Further reading
• 3 Shortness of Breath
• 3.1 Definition
• 3.2 Diagnostic algorithm
• 3.3 Differentials list
• 3.4 Key history features
• 3.5 Key examination features
• 3.6 Key investigations
• 3.7 When to call a senior
• Guidelines
• Further reading
• 4 Loss of Consciousness
• 4.1 Definition
• 4.2 Classification
• 4.3 Differentials list
• 4.4 Key history features
• 4.5 Key examination features
• 4.6 Key investigations
• 4.7 When to call a senior
• 4.8 Key clinical trials
• Guidelines
• Further reading
• 5 Palpitations
• 5.1 Definition
• 5.2 Diagnostic algorithm
• 5.3 Differentials list
• 5.4 Key history features
• 5.5 Key examination features
• 5.6 Key investigations
• 5.7 When to call a senior
• Guidelines
• Further reading
• 6 Cardiac Murmurs
• 6.1 Definition
• 6.2 Classification
• 6.3 Differentials list
• 6.4 Key history features
• 6.5 Key examination features
• 6.6 Key investigations
• 6.7 When to call a senior
• Key clinical trials
• Guidelines
• Further reading
• 7 Shock
• 7.1 Definition
• 7.2 Diagnostic algorithm
• 7.3 Differentials list
• 7.4 Key history features
• 7.5 Key examination features
• 7.6 Key investigations
• 7.7 When to call a senior
• Key clinical trials
• Guidelines
• Further reading
• 8 Oedema
• 8.1 Definition
• 8.2 Diagnostic algorithm
• 8.3 Differentials list
• 8.4 Key history features
• 8.5 Key examination features
• 8.6 Key investigations
• 8.7 When to call a senior
• Key clinical trials
• Guidelines
• Further reading
• PART 3 Conditions
• 9 Acute Coronary Syndrome
• 9.1 Definition
• 9.2 Underlying concepts
• 9.3 Key data
• 9.4 Clinical types
• 9.5 Presenting features
• 9.6 Differentials
• 9.7 Key investigations
• 9.8 Management options
• Key clinical trials
• Guidelines
• Further reading
• 10 Stable Angina
• 10.1 Definition
• 10.2 Underlying concepts
• 10.3 Key data
• 10.4 Clinical types
• 10.5 Presenting features
• 10.6 Differentials
• 10.7 Key investigations
• 10.8 Management options
• Key clinical trials
• Guidelines
• Further reading
• 11 Heart Failure
• 11.1 Definition
• 11.2 Underlying concepts
• 11.3 Clinical types
• 11.4 Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction
• 11.5 Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HF-PEF)
• Key clinical trials
• Guidelines
• Further reading
• 12 Infective Endocarditis
• 12.1 Definition
• 12.2 Underlying concepts
• 12.3 Key data
• 12.4 Clinical types
• 12.5 Presenting features
• 12.6 Differentials
• 12.7 Key investigations
• 12.8 Management options
• Key clinical trials
• Guidelines
• Further reading
• 13 Arrhythmias
• 13.1 Definition
• 13.2 Underlying concepts
• 13.3 Clinical types
• 13.4 Atrial fibrillation
• 13.5 Atrial flutter
• 13.6 Supraventricular tachycardias
• 13.7 Ventricular tachycardia
• 13.8 Other arrhythmias to be aware of
• Key clinical trials
• Guidelines
• Further reading
• 14 Valvular Heart Disease
• 14.1 Definition
• 14.2 Underlying concepts
• 14.3 Clinical types
• 14.4 Mitral regurgitation (MR)
• 14.5 Mitral stenosis (MS)
• 14.6 Aortic stenosis (AS)
• 14.7 Aortic regurgitation (AR)
• 14.8 Other murmurs to be aware of
• Key clinical trials
• Guidelines
• Further reading
• 15 Cardiomyopathy
• 15.1 Definition
• 15.2 Underlying concepts
• 15.3 Clinical types
• 15.4 Presentation
• 15.5 Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
• 15.6 Dilated cardiomyopathy
• 15.7 Restrictive cardiomyopathy
• 15.8 Other cardiomyopathies
• Guidelines
• Further reading
• 16 Hypertension
• 16.1 Definition
• 16.2 Underlying concepts
• 16.3 Key data
• 16.4 Clinical types
• 16.5 Presenting features
• 16.6 Differentials
• 16.7 Key investigations
• 16.8 Management options
• Key clinical trials
• Guidelines
• Further reading
• 17 Pericardial Disease
• 17.1 Definition
• 17.2 Underlying concepts
• 17.3 Clinical types
• 17.4 Acute pericarditis
• 17.5 Constrictive pericarditis
• 17.6 Pericardial effusion
• Key clinical trials
• Guidelines
• Further reading
• 18 Congenital Heart Disease
• 18.1 Definition
• 18.2 Underlying concepts
• 18.3 Atrial septal defect
• 18.4 Ventricular septal defect
• 18.5 Coarctation of the aorta
• 18.6 Other forms of congenital heart disease
• Key clinical trials
• Guidelines
• Further reading
• PART 4 Imaging
• 19 Electrocardiogram
• 19.1 Definition
• 19.2 Outline of procedure
• 19.3 Indications
• 19.4 Peri-procedural management
• 19.5 Key features
• 19.6 Interpretation
• 19.7 Potential complications
• Guidelines
• Further reading
• 20 Transoesophageal Echocardiogram
• 20.1 Definition
• 20.2 Outline of procedure
• 20.3 Indications
• 20.4 Peri-procedural management
• 20.5 Interpretation
• 20.6 Potential complications
• Guidelines
• Further reading
• 21 Trans-Thoracic Echocardiogram
• 21.1 Definition
• 21.2 Outline of procedure
• 21.3 Indications
• 21.4 Peri-procedural management
• 21.5 Interpretation
• 21.6 Potential complications
• Guidelines
• 22 Cardiac MRI
• 22.1 Definition
• 22.2 Outline of procedure
• 22.3 Indications
• 22.4 Peri-procedural management
• 22.5 Interpretation
• 22.6 Potential complications
• Key clinical trials
• Guidelines
• Further reading
• 23 Cardiac CT
• 23.1 Definition
• 23.2 Outline of procedure
• 23.3 Indications
• 23.4 Peri-procedural management
• 23.5 Interpretation
• 23.6 Potential complications
• Key clinical trials
• Guidelines
• Further reading
• 24 Cardiac Catheterization
• 24.1 Definition
• 24.2 Outline of procedure
• 24.3 Indications
• 24.4 Peri-procedural management
• 24.5 Interpretation
• 24.6 Potential complications
• Guidelines
• Further reading
• PART 5 Interventional Therapies
• 25 Pacemakers and Implantable Cardiac Defibrillators
• 25.1 Definition
• 25.2 Outline of devices
• 25.3 Outline of procedure
• 25.4 Indications
• 25.5 Peri-procedural management
• 25.6 Potential complications
• Key clinical trials
• Guidelines
• 26 Percutaneous Coronary Intervention and Angioplasty
• 26.1 Definition
• 26.2 Basic principles
• 26.3 Outline of procedure
• 26.4 Indications
• 26.5 Peri-procedural management
• 26.6 Interpretation
• 26.7 Potential complications
• 26.8 Thrombolysis
• Key clinical trials
• Guidelines
• Further reading
• 27 Valvuloplasty
• 27.1 Definition
• 27.2 Outline of procedure and devices
• 27.3 Indications
• 27.4 Peri-procedural management
• 27.5 Potential complications
• Guidelines
• 28 Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation
• 28.1 Definition
• 28.2 Outline of procedure and devices
• 28.3 Indications
• 28.4 Peri-procedural management
• 28.5 Potential complications
• Key clinical trials
• Guidelines
• Further reading
• 29 Cardiac Ablation
• 29.1 Definition
• 29.2 Outline of procedure
• 29.3 Indications
• 29.4 Peri-procedural management
• 29.5 Potential complications
• Key clinical trials
• Guidelines
• Further reading
• PART 6 Pharmacology
• 30 Anti-Arrhythmic Agents
• 30.1 Adenosine
• 30.2 Amiodarone
• 30.3 Flecainide
• 30.4 Digoxin
• 30.5 Atropine
• Key clinical trials
• 31 Beta-Blockers
• 31.1 General notes
• 31.2 Non-selective
• 31.3 Cardioselective
• Key clinical trials
• 32 Calcium-Channel Blockers
• 32.1 General notes
• 32.2 Cardiac selective
• 32.3 Action primarily on vascular smooth muscle
• Key clinical trials
• 33 Nitrates
• 33.1 General notes
• 33.2 Oral nitrates
• 33.3 Nitrates used as an infusion
• Key clinical trials
• 34 Drugs Targeting the Angiotensin Axis
• 34.1 General notes
• 34.2 ACE inhibitors (ACEi)
• 34.3 Angiotensin-receptor blockers
• 35 Diuretics
• 35.1 Loop diuretics
• 35.2 Thiazides and thiazide-like diuretics
• 35.3 Potassium-sparing diuretics
• Key trials
• 36 Anticoagulants
• 36.1 Heparin
• 36.2 Low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs)
• 36.3 Fondaparinux
• 36.4 Warfarin
• 36.5 Novel oral anticoagulants
• Key trials
• 37 Antiplatelets
• 37.1 Aspirin
• 37.2 Clopidogrel
• 37.3 Novel antiplatelets
• 38 Lipid Regulation
• 38.1 Statins