Heart Disease in Paediatrics

This introduction to paediatric cardiology has been developed to provide up-to-date information on methods of diagnosis and treatment, particularly of congenital heart disease. It indicates to what extent the clinical signs and symptoms, assisted by radiological and electrocardiographic findings, can indicate the diagnosis, and when further investigation by cardiac catheterization and angiography will be required. The third edition of this volume has been revised to include a number of new non-invasive techniques such as Doppler echocardiography and the various procedures of balloon valvuloplasty and angioplasty. Information is given about the risks, prevention and recurrence of congenital heart disease and the need for genetic counselling. A new chapter is devoted to the prevention of heart disease in adult life and the risk factors which operate in childhood and the chapter on social problems has been expanded to give more information about education, exercise, immunization, travel, life insurance, psychological problems and the value of Parents' Associations. Finally, new attitudes to the treatment of heart failure and new surgical techniques are described, together with heart and heart-lung transplantation. The book is designed as a reference for paediatricians, cardiologists, general practitioners, community paediatricians, nurses and technicians.