Acute Aortic Disease.. - Index of

x Preface
Figure 2 (See color insert) Albert Einstein, Lucille Ball, Jonathan Larson (author of
“Rent”), Flo Hyman (Olympic volleyball player), George C. Scott, and John Ritter are just
a few among scores of brilliant people whose lives were cut short by acute aortic diseases.
disorders to injure or kill patients is expressed through a variety of acute aortic
conditions. It is on these conditions that this volume is focused.
Acute aortic disease has affected so many individuals of great intelligence,
creativity, and physical prowess (Fig. 2) that some authors have even speculated
that the propensity for aortic aneurysm or dissection is genetically associated with
intellectual or physical brilliance.
This volume is intended for cardiologists, emergency physicians, and
cardiac surgeons. Of course, this book is also appropriate for trainees in those
disciplines. We anticipate that it will also prove useful to a wide variety of other
professionals, including internists, vascular surgeons, radiologists, physician
associates, nurses, and students and residents in these various disciplines. The
book provides basic information for the novice as well as cutting-edge insight for
the expert.
This book takes up four perspectives to understanding aortic diseases: we
explore the underlying biology of aortic disease, the imaging of aortic aneurysms
and dissections, the appropriate means for diagnosis of these entities, and, of
course, the treatment, both medical and surgical, of acute aortic conditions. Via
these investigations, we will “read the playbook” of this virulent opponent that
constitutes the acute aortic condition. By reading the playbook, we aim to render
the professional better able to do battle with these conditions.
We make liberal use of illustrations of all types, including line drawings,
x-rays, and operative photographs, in order to emphasize the narrative observations
made in the text.