Many patients presenting for thoracic and vascular surgery have concomitant cardiac disease.
The ACC site provides other downloadable monographs on a range of topics, including this treatise on evaluation and management of heart failure. Further discussion of heart failure is available at this University of Manitoba site. HeartWeb is a peer reviewed cardiology journal with pertinent articles, with special emphasis on patients with disordered electrophysiology. The site requires registration. Patients who are Jehovahs' Witnesses may present for cardiac surgery and require special attention with regards to blood conservation techniques.