Cardiac Electrophysiology and Catheter Ablation (Oxford Specialist Handbooks in Cardiology) Paperback – 24 Jun. 2010

This is a great reference. It really has bulk of what you need to know about EP from a user perspective in a handy pocketbook format! It's an easy to use reference to specific chapters and dip in and out of it. It's also handy to have the ribbons built into the book to use as bookmarks. My only criticism would be the lack of color in the diagrams - without the color the point the authors are making isn't readily apparent. I've actually met the authors and they are highly experienced. There are some facts that are a bit out of date about one of the 3D mapping systems but they do a good job of giving a balanced perspective.This book was recommended to me by a physiologist whose colleagues use this as an EP bible!

I liked it most.....

Really a new book & not used

the book to travel with

I wish I had bought this years ago, very handy reference book and very easy to read. Can not recommend it enough :-)

Good read

Cardiac electrophysiology has always been a complex subspecialty in cardiology and this aspect often discourages trainees from becoming involved beyond a basic understanding. It is hard for the uninitiated to know where to begin when faced with one of the many large text books available on the subject. The Oxford Specialist Handbook on Cardiac Electrophysiology and Catheter Ablation lends itself perfectly to the beginner, whether trainee in cardiology or an allied professional including cardiac physiologists, nurses or radiographers. However it also provides sufficient depth and complexity to be a useful on a daily basis at any level as a companion in the electrophysiology laboratory, outpatient clinic or on the wards.The book is divided into four sections. The first covers essential background information on such topics as the electrical system of the heart and arrhythmia mechanisms. Also included is an introduction to invasive electrophysiology, the trans-septal puncture and 3-dimensional cardiac mapping. The second section provides a systematic approach to diagnostic testing in the electrophysiology laboratory with guides to investigating patient with narrow and broad complex tachycardias and assessing those patients at risk of sudden cardiac death or with bradycardias.Section three explores the epidemiology, anatomy and pathophysiology of commonly encountered arrhythmias and the final section gives a very practical step-by step approach to the ablation of these common arrhythmias and how to assess the success of the procedure.Throughout, the book is well illustrated with over 200 diagrams, fluoroscopic images, electrograms and anatomical maps. Although the electrograms are drawn rather than actual examples, they are of excellent quality. The middle part of the book contains colour copies of some of the illustrations which are particularly helpful as the black and white 3D maps are difficult to understand by those unaccustomed to using these systems.Overall this book provides a comprehensive guide to the investigation and treatment of supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias. It is a highly useful day-to-day guide and may stimulate the reader to explore the subject further in the more traditional textbooks or wider literature when more detail is required.Dr David A Begley, Consultant Cardiologist/Electrophysiologist, Papworth Hospital.