This reference resource represents the consensus opinion a team of international specialists on the diagnosis and treatment of infective endocarditis (IE), many of whom have been co-authors of American or European guidelines on the topic. It is therefore a useful tool for many practitioners: cardiologists and cardiac imagers, cardiac surgeons, echocardiographers, specialists of internal medicine, neurologists, and infectiologists. ​​​Infective endocarditis (IE) is defined as an infection of the endocardial surface of the heart, which may include one or more heart valves, the mural endocardium, or a septal defect. Its intracardiac effects include severe valvular insufficiency, which may lead to intractable congestive heart failure and myocardial abscesses. If left untreated, IE is generally fatal. IE is a changing disease with new diagnostic techniques, new therapeutic strategies, more frequent elderly people and patients with prosthetic valves of intravenous drug users.

One of the most time-consuming tasks in clinical medicine is seeking the opinions of specialist colleagues. There is a pressure not only to make referrals appropriate but also to summarize the case in the language of the specialist. This book explains basic physiologic and pathophysiologic mechanisms of cardiovascular disease in a straightforward manner, gives guidelines as to when referral is appropriate, and, uniquely, explains what the specialist is likely to do. It is ideal for any hospital doctor, generalist, or even senior medical student who may need a cardiology opinion, or for that ma.

Providing a thorough examination of this disease that causes valvular infection, Infective Endocarditis covers all aspects from the pre-antibiotic era to the current problems of prosthetic valve endocarditis, endocarditis associated with intravenous drug abusers, and the treatment of multiply resistant organisms. The first chapters cover the history of infective endocarditis, from the 15th-Century to the advent of modern antibiotic and surgical therapy for valvular infection. Chapters on epidemiology, microbiology, pathogenesis, pathophysiology, and pathology serve as grounding for the clinical aspects of the disease. Key chapters on clinical correlations, clinical manifestations, diagnosis (including a complete discussion of the use of echocardiograpy), and medical and surgical treatment of endocarditis provide a comprehensive approach to patient care.

The first up-to-date source on the subject in more than a decade, this authoritative and all-encompassing guide summarizes the latest findings on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of infective endocarditis. Written by a world recognized expert with more than 35 years of experience in

The second edition of a succinct and portable text reviewing the clinical approach to emergency medicine and critical care.

Introductory Chapter: Introduction to Advanced Concepts in Endocarditis.

Infective Endocarditis: A Multidisciplinary Approach provides a comprehensive review of infective endocarditis and covers the entire spectrum of medical care for these challenging patients. It covers the ever-increasing scope of the problem, including epidemiology, as well as diagnostic work-up, microbiology, medical therapy, and surgical therapy for this disease. The book also addresses the opioid epidemic and rising infective endocarditis incidence in this population. Each type of practitioner can use this book as a definitive resource in reviewing aspects of care related to the endocarditis patient. This book will also serve as an updated resource to provide recent evidence regarding the management of these patients, as well as author perspectives and approaches to tackling the often complex and challenging issues revolving around care of the endocarditis patient. This is an essential reference and an authoritative source for infective endocarditis and provide physicians, nurses, social workers, and everyone who is routinely involved in the care of these patients. - Provides a thorough, yet concise review from a multidisciplinary perspective on the work-up and management of infective endocarditis - Presents updated reviews on evidence and current guidelines for treating patients with infective endocarditis - Provides discussion on controversial aspects of management, both medical and ethical

Only current atlas on the topic of infective endocarditis Extensive treatment and diagnostic algorithms in the form of tables and appendices Many never before seen images of high quality

The most important example of intravascular infection is infective endocarditis (IE), a common and serious disorder in man. In the past, these infections were uniformly fatal, but since the development of potent antimicrobial agents, bac teriological cure has become practical and predictable. So, for a while, it seemed that intravascular infection would diminish in importance and be relegated to the stockpile of illnesses which physicians, one or two generations earlier, used to see frequently. In recent years, however, spectacular technological advances (cardiac surgery, intravascular devices, hemodialysis), accompanied by profound social deterioration (intravenous drug usage), have provided new breeding grounds for the development of these infections. So it is that a large percentage of intravascular infections may be looked upon today as one of the diseases of medical progress and social evolution. This "progress," however, has not only contributed to the encouragement of the disease; there is another side to the coin: the same technological advances that have served to increase the frequency of infection (e. g. , intravascular plastic catheters) have also led to the first simple, easily reproducible laboratory animal model for the study of the disease, thus advancing our understanding of the prophylaxis, treatment, and general biology of these infections (Figures 1 and 2). Similarly, whereas the insertion of prosthetic heart valves has created a new group of patients with endocarditis, these same surgical techniques are lifesaving to patients with endocarditis whose aortic valves have perforated.

Active infective endocarditis is one of the most serious diseases of the heart. Infection often causes periannular abscess, and may also spread to affect the mitral valve structures. This assessment of the results of surgical treatment of active infective endocarditis was performed at the German Heart Institute Berlin. It focuses on preoperative investigation and proposes a new classification of this endocarditic disease.