Recommeded Reading Material and References
Coming soon:
Cardiothoracic Surgery Textbooks
The Amazon links are provided for you to see more reviews of the books.
Oxford Handbook of Cardiothoracic Surgery
Chikwe, Beddow, Glenville 2006
Pros: Small and Pocketable; Gets to the point quickly, like the Oxford handbook series. Covers all major sections of cardiothoracic surgery.
Cons: Hard to find a fault for a small book - it is afterall a handbook.
Overall: Good handbook for all Cardiothoracic Surgery Trainees.
Cardiac Surgery in the Adult
Lawrence Cohn, 3rd Edition, 2008
Pros: Very readable. So readable even a 10 year old can read it. Free on CTSNet. Recently published.
Cons: Book is big and pricey (> £100) - it is afterall a big book. Only Cardiac Surgery - No Thoracic Surgery. No Congenital* or Paediatric Surgery.
Cardiac Surgery
Kirklin and Barratt-Boyes, 3rd Edition, 2003
Pros: Considered the Bible of Cardiac Surgery - that usually means if other books fail go to Kirklin and Barratt-Boyes.
Cons: Book is big and pricey (£250 - £300) - it is afterall a big book. Only Cardiac Surgery - No Thoracic Surgery.
Overall: Considered the Bible of Cardiac Surgery. As a medical student or trainee, earning meager sums on your 48hr week, if you should choose to buy it you may not have any money to eat for the rest of the month. Look for it in your library.
The Evidence for Cardiothoracic Surgery
Edited by Treasure, Keogh, Pagano, Mehran, 1st Edition, 2005
Pros: Covers a lot of cardiothoracic surgery. Very good.
Cons: Needs updating; though the references in it are fantastic, there are almost certianly a few papers published since 2005 that will be added to a new edition.
Overall: Good reference book, and a great contribution to the field of cardiothoracic surgery. Make sure you read the chapters on coronary artery surgery before speaking with a cardiologist, especially an interventional cardiologist.
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Key Topics In Cardiac Surgery
Ohri, Tang, Stephenson 2005
Pros: One theme runs throughout the book - virtually every sentence contains relevant information; in other words it cuts out a lot of waffle. Even though the writing technique sometimes varies from chapter to chapter the books still retains that underlying theme - credit to the editors
Cons: Before reading this book it will definitely help if you have previously read and already have appreciation of the concepts and information presented. That, however, does not apply to all the chapters - for example Chapter 20 (Surgery for Atrial Fibrillation) can be read and easily grasped without knowing much on the subject.
Overall: Fits a lot of complex information into a small book. If I was faced with an exam or interview in cardiac surgery the next day this book would be my first port of call. Aimed squarely at cardiac surgical trainees, especially those preparing fo their exit/board exams (this is something the book clearly states); brave medical students may venture.
Recommended Papers
Coming Soon.
* Excludes valve surgery, some of which are congenital, even though may present in adults; for example bicuspid aortic valves.