Surgical Options for the Management of Congestive Heart Failure

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is one of the most common killers worldwide and is becoming more prevalent as the population continues to age. Despite great advances in medical drug treatment and the liberal use of pacemakers and internal defibrillators, the outcome of CHF remains poor, which has prompted investigators to consider new surgical options for its management. This special issue compiles contributions from a select group of investigators and experts from premier medical centers. It covers many important topics, including aortic valve replacement for valvular cardiomyopathy, mitral valve repair, myocardial revascularization in patients with ventricular dysfunction, the pros and cons of beating heart versus on-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG), and clinical trials comparing CABG to percutaneous coronary interventions.