This well-written text provides the new interventionalist with the basics required for cardiac catheterization as well as the latest developments for drug eluting stents, imaging, cardiac flow, the analysis of good and bad results, as well as many more standard routines. Most of the contributors have worked with one of the world's leading interventional cardiologists, Patrick W Serruys of Rotterdam. Under his guidance in one of the busiest cath labs anywhere, the contributors absorbed a considerable amount of technique-based knowledge and experienced high-risk cases not seen in smaller units. Their experience there and in their present positions is the basis for this book.


Contents:
1. Who Should Not Go to The Cathlab? 2. Radiation Safety in the Catheterization Laboratory 3. Current Use of Antiplatelet Agents 4. Complications and How to Deal with Them 5. Vascular Access 6. Basic Coronary Angiography: Techniques, Tools and Troubleshooting 7. Right Heart Catheterization and Hemodynamic Profiles 8. Balloon Angioplasty 9. Coronary Stenting 10. Ablative Techniques in Coronary Intervention 11. Treatment of Complete Angioplasty Subsets 12. Primary Angioplasty for Acute Myocardial Infarction 13. The Role of Distal Protection Devices 14. Pathophysiology of Restenosis 15. Pharmacological Treatment of Restenosis 16. The Mechanical Treatment of In-stent Restenosis 17. Restenosis and Brachytherapy 18. Drug-eluting Stents 19. Intravascular Ultrasound 20. Physiological Assessment of Coronary Circulation Using Pressure and Doppler Guidewires 21. Invasive Imaging of Vulnerable Plaque 22. Noninvasive Coronary Imaging with Multislice Spiral Computed Tomography 23. Myogenesis: An Update in Muscle Regeneration 24. Circulatory Assist Devices 25. Groin Closure Devices 26. Stent Retrieval 27. Percutaneous Atrial Septal Defect, Patent Foramen Ovale Closure and Patent Ductus Arteriosus Closure 28. Carotid and Peripheral Angiography and Intervention 29. The Importance of Echocardiography to the Interventionalist 30. Percutaneous Mitral Valvuloplasty