Kaplan’s Cardiac Anesthesia, 8th Edition

By: Joel A. Kaplan 

ISBN: 9780323829243 

Publication Date: September 13, 2023 

Reviewer: Monica Arndt, MD (Yale School of Medicine) 

Description 

This book reviews the most relevant topics to the modern practice of cardiac anesthesia. With the use of many graphs, videos, and info graphs, it provides visually appealing and easy-to-comprehend sections on important subjects. This is an update to the 2017 edition, and its emphasis on mechanical circulatory support further reinforces its importance to the practice of cardiac anesthesia. 

Purpose 

This book’s purpose is to offer a comprehensive overview of these current topics, assisting in optimum perioperative treatment. This is a significant source for the student of cardiac anesthesia, may it be novice or advanced. The authors acknowledge the complex progression cardiac anesthesia has taken with the enhanced practice of perioperative echocardiography, mechanical circulatory support, and management of pathologies not operated on in the past, as well as the ever more frequent presence of the cardiac anesthesiologist in the intensive care setting, managing these extremely complex patients. With the added benefit of the online version, not only is there bonus content in video format added, but the title also offers a portability benefit, to be referenced anywhere, anytime, from any device. 

Audience 

The authors were careful in offering a thorough perspective of the topics cardiac anesthesiologists, fellows, residents, or other professionals interested in cardiac anesthesiology will face routinely. The editors selected experienced surgeons, assistant professors, and professors to develop the individual chapters, and the result is a requisite compilation of some of the most respected experts in the field. 

Features 

The book reviews basic and comprehensive transthoracic and transesophageal knowledge and imaging, utilizing multiple videos to further clarify how to achieve and evaluate the different views. It covers the current use of mechanical circulatory support and combines how to integrate these devices’ management in the intensive care unit and the surgical suite. It promotes extensive discussions from physiology to pathophysiology to anesthetic management, and the chapters approach the most frequent pathologies cardiac anesthesiologists will encounter, such as myocardial revascularization and valvular pathologies. The appendix on electrocardiograms and the most common abnormalities offers an easy-to-access source of reference. 

Assessment 

This updated title remains the book of reference in cardiac anesthesia, with further emphasis on topics like mechanical circulatory support and respiratory effects after COVID for patients undergoing cardiac surgery. The updated infographics and decision pathways are visually appealing, and the videos on the online version add tremendously to comprehend the different perspectives for the performance of thorough transesophageal studies. It remains the definitive textbook in cardiac anesthesiology. The authors improved and updated the topics from the past five years, making this new edition particularly relevant. This is a requisite for anyone who practices cardiac anesthesiology. 

©Doody’s Review Service, 2024, Monica Arndt, MD (Yale School of Medicine), Doody’s Score: 96 – 4 Stars 

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