Book excerpt: This book is geared toward cardiologists, trainees, and housestaff --anyone who rotates or practices in the CCU--who must grasp the subtleties when treating patients in a cardiac care unit. It is organized in a way to help you understand the simplified pathophysiology of the disease, the diagnosis modalities, the initial critical care management in the CCU, the clinical care in a step down unit and plan for discharge therapy. Dr. Herzog has developed unified pathways for the management of patients presenting with acute chest pain or its equivalent, acute heart failure, atrial fibrillation and flutter, syncope, cardiac arrest, hypertension and hyperglycemia. Algorithms and pathways for management are provided in each chapter for easy implementation in any health care system. In addition, because specialized units are frightening to the patients and their families, there is a section in each chapter on what the patient and family need to know, that encompasses a capsulated explanation of the condition and treatment management. A companion website accompanies the text that includes fully searchable text and patient information.