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.