Book excerpt: Thoroughly revised and updated for its Fifth Edition, this manual is a practical quick-reference guide to the immediate and long-term evaluation and management of cardiovascular disease. In an easy-to-scan outline format, the book describes current strategies for diagnosis and medical and surgical management of all cardiovascular disorders. Numerous tables provide rapid access to essential information. This edition is a major revision with a distinguished new co-author, Gordon A. Ewy, MD. Sections on coronary artery disease, acute myocardial infarction, and lipids have been completely reworked and chapters on therapy and cardiopulmonary resuscitation have been rewritten. This edition also includes more tables and drawings.