This book addresses the tough clinical issues faced by electrophysiologists and cardiologists who treat patients with Cardiac Implantable Electrical Devices (CIEDs) in real-world practice. With contributions from widely recognized international leaders in the field, this 10-chapter resource covers a variety of controversies with CIEDs, from discerning what device is appropriate to use for heart failure to ethical issues in their use at the end of a patient’s life. To supplement these discussions, chapters review opposing positions on both sides of a controversy and present clinical material to illustrate the different perspectives. Clinical Controversies in Device Therapy for Cardiac Arrhythmias is an essential resource not only for physicians, residents, and fellows in cardiac electrophysiology and cardiology but also for associated professionals including nurses and technicians who work with CIEDs.

Debates and controversies about how to treat difficult problems or conditions abound in cardiac electrophysiology. This issue attempts to bring together a variety of controversial subjects and to present differing views on how to resolve these questions so clinicians will have a handy guide to the most current thinking about these difficult subjects.

Controversies in Cardiac Electrophysiology are examined in this issue of Cardiac Electrophysiology Clinics. Difficult cases are presented and esteemed leaders in the field debate the pros and cons of various forms of management and treatment.

Cardiac electrophysiologists face many challenging situations in which there is no clear-cut answer about the best way to handle a particular clinical problem. This issue brings together articles on many such situations, presents arguments on both sides, and lets the reader conclude which is the best way to manage a particular patient. Among the controversial and debatable topics included are how to handle device recalls, optimal timing for assessment of ICD efficacy, extraction o f broken leads, and anticoagulation therapy in device patients.

Heart failure affects over 5 million patients in the United States alone, and is a chronic and debilitating disease. While a number of pharmacologic therapies have shown varying degrees of effectiveness, many recent advances in the treatment of heart failure has focused on device based therapies. In Device Therapy in Heart Failure, William H. Maisel and a panel of authorities on the use and implementation of device based therapies provide a comprehensive overview of the current and developing technologies that are used to treat heart failure. Individual chapters provide an in-depth analysis of devices such as CRT’s and ICD’s, while broader topics such as the pathophysiology of heart failure and its current medical therapies are also discussed. Additional topics include Pacing and Defibrillation for Atrial Arrhythmias, Atrial Fibrillation Ablation, and Percutaneous Treatment of Coronary Artery Disease.

Here is an essential text for cardiologists, heart surgeons, intensive care specialists and anyone interested in pacing. It is a comprehensive guide to contemporary devices used in the resynchronization of patients’ heartbeats. The treatment of congestive heart failure by implanted biventricular pacemakers, or cardiac resynchronization, has revolutionized the practice of implanting pacemakers and defibrillators. More cardiac resynchronization therapy devices than conventional pacemakers are now being implanted and the numbers are growing worldwide.

This book provides a comprehensive practical guide to the plethora of devices that have been developed to support the failing heart. It features easy to follow clinically relevant guidance on mechanical devices used for improving cardiac electrical conduction and cardiac output. Chapters cover indications and implant considerations for the implantable cardioverter defibrillator and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices and hemodynamic monitoring in the intensive care unit. Case-Based Device Therapy for Heart Failure describes how to properly use a range of available devices to treat heart failure. Thanks to its multidisciplinary authorship, it is a valuable resource for practising and trainee heart failure cardiologists, electrophysiologists and cardiac surgeons.

Here is an essential text for cardiologists, heart surgeons, intensive care specialists and anyone interested in pacing. It is a comprehensive guide to contemporary devices used in the resynchronization of patients’ heartbeats. The treatment of congestive heart failure by implanted biventricular pacemakers, or cardiac resynchronization, has revolutionized the practice of implanting pacemakers and defibrillators. More cardiac resynchronization therapy devices than conventional pacemakers are now being implanted and the numbers are growing worldwide.

This book will consider several clinical and interventional topics for which there is uncertainty, continued debate and/or no consensus based on current guidelines. While there are numerous guidelines in cardiology, new and on-going trials that address new drugs treatments and procedures raise many unanswered questions. Furthermore, most practicing cardiologist taking care of the patients are likely unable to digest all of these studies or guidelines and necessarily correctly apply them to their patients. If one considers in the guidelines the frequent use of Level C (consensus), there are many areas or situations where no trial exists. Also, when applying the results of a trial to an individual patient, there can be uncertainty of how this patient should be managed based on the present body of evidence.

Ventricular arrhythmias cause most cases of sudden cardiac death, which is the leading cause of death in the US. This issue reviews the causes of arrhythmias and the promising new drugs and devices to treat arrhythmias.