PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE FROM A SURGICAL PERS PECTIVE

This book is written to clarify and demystify the pathophysiology of congenital heart disease, which many find daunting. It focuses on what is relevant from a surgical point of view, i.e. issues that would be helpful to people involved in perioperative care. This is important, since the functions and processes of the cardiovascular system may be profoundly altered in many forms of congenital heart disease such that the common and well-known protocols of clinical care may not apply, or even do harm. A sound understanding of this pathophysiology would enable clinicians to make decisions tailored to the needs of each patient, anticipate problems and adjust to them, or even formulate individualized treatment strategies from first principles.