Zoe Duke

Over the past decade there has been increasing interest in the use of complementary therapies in health care settings (Hill, 1995). Although holistic techniques designed to reduce stress and anxiety, such as massage and aromatherapy, are viewed within the realm of nursing, such techniques are infrequently used and inadequately evaluated in critical care settings (Hobbs and Davies, 1998). This article aims to review the available literature on the effects of massage in critical care areas

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a rare stress-induced cardiomyopathy, most often seen in post menopausal women after an emotional stressor. The syndrome usual presents with anginal type chest pain. The electrocardiogram typically shows precordial ST-segment elevation and/or T-wave inversion suggesting left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion. Cardiac ischaemic markers are elevated but coronary angiography reveals a lack of significant coronary artery disease. Left ventricle angiography demonstrates hypokinesis and ballooning of the apex. Wall motion abnormalities resolve over weeks and overall prognosis is favourable. Two case studies are reported here that demonstrate typical presentation of the transient cardiomyopathy.

This text is a very useful and comprehensive guide to pharmacological agents used in the cardiac catheter laboratory and covers a wide range of drugs used within the interventional cardiology setting.