Amazon.com description: Product Description: The thoroughly revised and updated edition of this highly acclaimed volume is the most complete, current, and authoritative clinical reference on all forms of valvular heart disease. This edition features contributions by 29 noted experts from leading medical centers throughout the United States. All chapters have been extensively revised or completely rewritten to reflect the latest diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. In keeping with today's health care practices, the book provides detailed information on non-invasive techniques. Well-organised chapters outline the pathophysiology, pathology, signs, symptoms, laboratory diagnosis, and treatment of each form of valvular heart disease. This edition also includes a new chapter on rheumatic fever. Additional chapters focus on endocarditis, prosthetic heart valves, management of anti-thrombotic therapy in patients with prosthetic heart valves, and anticoagulation for patients with atrial fibrillation. Nearly 200 illustrations, graphs, and charts complement the text