Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation: Basic Theory and Application, 3d ed.

The authors report that the third edition of this book has been extensively revised; however, the major goal remains the same: "to provide students and practicing clinicians with information necessary to develop their decision-making skills ... for cardiac and pulmonary patients." This book is intended for physical therapist students, physical therapists, athletic trainers, and exercise physiologists.

The book is organized into sections on basic science, pathophysiology, assessment tools, and treatments. The basic science section covers the heart, circulation, respiration, and responses to aerobic exercise and provides readers with background and a better understanding of the later chapters. This section is informative, well-written, and easy to read. However, it contains an inadequate discussion about autonomic nervous system regulation of venous return and the role that venous return plays in determining preload and cardiac output. This omission limits the reader's ability to apply the information to other patient populations, such as people with paraplegia.

The chapters on the pathophysiology of coronary artery disease and chronic lung diseases have been updated with current information and references. These chapters discuss the etiology, pathology, clinical presentation, clinical course, and prognosis for common chronic lung diseases and for coronary artery disease. The pathophysiology section is followed by a chapter on the medical and surgical management of cardiopulmonary diseases. Several common classes of drugs are discussed in terms of action, uses, contraindications, side effects, and the effects that these drugs have on the patient's ability to tolerate exercise. The discussion of surgical management provides the reader with a good understanding of many of the surgical interventions currently being used.

The next portion of the book includes several chapters on the evaluation of patients with cardiac or pulmonary diseases. These chapters contain information on performing a patient evaluation and provide a background for understanding and interpreting common laboratory tests used with these patient populations. A separate chapter is devoted to understanding and interpreting electrocardiograms. All chapters in this portion of the book include case studies that promote problem-solving skills and illustrate the clinical application of current theoretical concepts.

The last portion of the book includes clinically relevant chapters on formulating an exercise prescription, components of therapy sessions, and risk factor modification. Case studies are provided and used effectively. In addition, there is a helpful part devoted to patients who require special consideration, such as patients with diabetes melitus and peripheral vascular disease. The book contains many figures, illustrations, and tables that provide concise summary information and additional understanding of the material presented. The appendix has useful sections on informed consent and emergency procedures. Although much of this information can be found in other textbooks, this book's presentation and integration of case studies make it an excellent text for physical therapist students and clinicians.

Dr Stockert is Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy. He specializes in the teaching of physiology, pathology, and anatomy.