Includes bibliographical references and index.

Epidemiology of heart failure: progression to pandemic? -- Heart failure clinical trials: shaping the evidence for treatment guidelines -- Standard medical therapy of heart failure -- Novel therapies in heart failure -- Implantable cardioverter defibrillators and biventricular pacemakers in congestive heart failure -- Managing a heart failure clinic -- Novel imaging technologies for heart failure patients -- Assessment of myocardial viability in ischemic cardiomyopathy -- Bypass surgery in the treatment of ischemic cardiomyopathy -- Valve surgery for patients with left ventricular dysfunction -- Ventricular reconstruction and device therapies for cardiomyopathy patients -- Mechanical circulatory support -- The role of heart transplantation -- Perioperative care of the surgical patient with heart failure: from conventional cardiac surgery to mechanical circulatory support -- Biological approaches to heart failure: gene transfer and cell transplantation -- Ethical issues in cardiothoracic medicine.