Selected Topics in Exercise Cardiology and Rehabilitation

In this book the lectures of the first course of the International School of Cardiology at Ettore Majorana are presented. It is difficult to reflect in a publication of this kind the atmosphere and spirit of this postgraduate course. Moreover, the beautiful scenery of Erice and its surroundings, celebrated by ancient Greek poets, can never be described by the editors of this book. The purpo~e of this course was to deepen our knowledge accumulated todate on the subjects of non-invasive cardio circulatory assessment and the analysis of the comprehensive approach to cardiac rehabilitation. The clinical value of exercise testing, echo-cardiography, scintigraphy, systolic time intervals have been discussed, as well as the tasks of exercise training, surgery and drugs in the secondary prevention of coronary heart disease. The problems of arrhythmias and the prevention of sudden death have been touched on, as well as early m~bilization after myocardial infarction, the use of digoxin and beta blockers and finally, the controversies in cardiac rehabilitation.

Inhalt
Cardiac Rehabilitation: An Overview.- Controversies in Rehabilitation of the Ischemic Heart Disease.- Early Mobilization after Myocardial Infarction: Historical Perspective and Critical Appraisal.- Early Exercise Test after Myocardial Infarction and in Unstable Angina.- Symptom Limited Exercise Test in Appraisal of Anti-Anginal Drugs.- Rationale of Physical Training in Patients with Angina Pectoris.- Psychological Aspects of Cardiac Rehabilitation.- Planning of Comprehensive Rehabilitation on the Basis of Exercise Testing after Myocardial Infarction.- The Training Effect in Short Term Rehabilitation.- Comparison of Medical and Surgical Treatment in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease.- Long Term Intervention with Beta-Blocking Agents in Ischemic Heart Disease.- Patient and Family Education: A Requisite Component of Comprehensive Rehabilitation after Myocardial Infarction.- Selected Chapters in Exercise Electrocardiography.- Value of Exercise Testing on Angina Pectoris for Prediction of Life Expectancy, Left Ventricular Function and Coronary Lessions.- Frequency of Ventricular Ectopic Activity Recorded during Exercise Stress Test and Continuous Holter Monitoring.- Clinical Significance of Cardiac Arrhythmias detected during Exercise.- Functional Evaluation of Patients with Implanted Pacemakers.- Echo Cardiography in Cardiac Functional Evaluation and Rehabilitation.- Resting and Exercise Systolic Time Intervals.- Value of Systolic and Diastolic Time Intervals.- Platelet Aggregation, Coagulation and Fibrinolysis at Rest and after Bicycle Ergometer Test in CHD.