Book excerpt: The first-ever primer for the cardiovascular interventionalist -- filled with up-to-date procedural advice! 4 STAR DOODY'S REVIEW! "This is a one-of-a-kind textbook for fellows in training and practicing interventionalists....This is an excellent and comprehensive book that fills a need for information on procedural techniques and avoidance of complications. It will be a welcome addition to the interventionalist's library."--Doody's Review Service Filling a crucial gap in procedural knowledge, this groundbreaking reference is the first to focus on interventional cardiovascular procedures. The book includes a full section on procedures as well as chapters on the necessary scientific foundation, to which specialists will refer every day in their clinical practice. In addition, each procedural chapter is loaded with valuable tips and pitfalls from an internationally recognized group of experts. Interventional Cardiology starts with a useful look the relevant anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology for interventional cardiology. It then covers the principles of the catheterization laboratory and its equipment plus pharmacology before moving on to a step-by-step review of individual procedures and other pertinent topics.The comprehensive coverage of the book is highly accessible thanks to a well-organized full-color format that synthesizes important information and provides a consistent template in describing each procedure. Throughout the book, charts and tables help to summarize key concepts and can serve as the basis for a detailed overview. Features: A first-of-its-kind, in-depth survey of procedural skills for interventional cardiology-edited by two of the foremost experts in the field, and featuring contributions from key opinion leaders in interventional cardiology Top-to-bottom coverage of the latest interventional cardiology techniques Valuable perspectives on avoiding and properly managing complications Up-to-date information on devices An extensive illustration program with four-color images and figures throughout