Solving the Mysteries of Heart Disease: Life-Saving Answers Ignored by the Medical Establishment by Gerald D Buckberg
Solving the Mysteries of Heart Disease: Life-Saving Answers Ignored by the Medical Establishment
by Gerald D Buckberg
5 July 2018 | ePUB | English | ISBN: 9780999847220 | 552 pages | 8.48 MB | Retail
by Gerald D Buckberg
5 July 2018 | ePUB | English | ISBN: 9780999847220 | 552 pages | 8.48 MB | Retail
Solving the Mysteries of Heart Disease describes the passionate lifelong journey of Dr. Gerald Buckberg, whose early discoveries have already helped save the lives of 25,000,000 heart disease patients. Yet Buckberg and his teams have pioneered additional advances that may save millions more – advances that are being ignored by the medical establishment.
These include breakthroughs that reverse congestive heart failure, treat sudden death/cardiac arrest with 80% survival (compared to the current rate of 15%), avoid heart muscle damage after an acute heart attack (that can lead to heart failure), and significantly improve effectiveness of pacemakers. Few families are untouched by one of these or the other conditions described in this book.
A Distinguished Professor of Surgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Dr. Buckberg’s initial landmark research dramatically transformed high-risk open heart operations into the routine procedures they are today. Over 85% of cardiac surgeons in the United States use his techniques. So why haven’t his team’s subsequent groundbreaking discoveries yet been adopted as standard practice?
The personal story of a relentless quest to solve problems long thought insurmountable, Solving the Mysteries of Heart Disease tells of triumphs over formidable odds and initial failures. It provides a deep understanding of how the heart works and what happens when things go wrong. At the same time, Buckberg exposes why the medical field has been too slow to adopt treatments proven effective in patients in the U.S. and internationally – remedies that could create a revolution in healthcare.
Get ready for a fascinating journey into the realm of scientific discovery in that most complex and storied human organ; The Heart. The Voyage is led by a truly remarkable tour guide; an icon of modern scientific investigation, a scientist versed in art, architecture, dance, and literature with an almost magical command of story-telling.
Herbert I. Machleder, M.D., Emeritus Professor of Surgery, UCLA, Past Chief of Staff, UCLA Hospital and Medical Center
At some point, nearly every person or someone they love is touched by heart disease. It occurred with me when my father needed a quadruple bypass and mitral valve repair. As it happens, I married one of my father’s heart surgeons, Brad Allen, who I discovered was also a medical researcher and has collaborated with Dr. Buckberg for over 35 years. He would often tell me of these amazing discoveries coming from this research, but I never truly understood until I read this book. Written in understandable language, it shows how many beliefs we have (and even our doctors have) about different heart diseases may actually not be true, and explains how these remarkable discoveries could literally save thousands of lives.
Jaclyn Smith, American Actress and Businesswoman
Solving the Mysteries of Heart Disease is a memoir, a detective story, and a love affair with the heart. These adventures of Dr. Buckberg are entertaining, but also carry an important message about modern medicine.
Paul Micevych, Ph.D., Chair, Dept of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
…the iconic surgeon-investigator at UCLA. The story of his extraordinary career, along with his personal experiences, is told so well by him in this captivating book.
Timothy J. Gardner, M.D., University of Pennsylvania, Div of Cardiac Vascular Surgery, Past President of American Heart Association
“Thinking outside the box” barely skims the surface of his brilliant mind….Dr. Buckberg’s theories have changed the way we practice cardiac surgery.
Marc R. Moon, M.D., Chief, Cardiac Surgery Director, Washington University School of Medicine
…a real “page turner” …a fascinating cross between a high-end spy novel and a scientific treatise on the causes of heart disease. Buckberg leaves nothing on the table… and we feel his pain as he explains why some of his most transformative ideas have not yet become mainstream.
Dr. Alan Russell, Highmark Distinguished Career Professor Director, Disruptive Health Technology Institute Carnegie Mellon University
…a fascinating journey…. Getting a wide acceptance of new concepts and innovative treatments is probably as difficult as climbing the Everest Mountain. Courage and tenacity are, among others, the key characteristics of Gerald Buckberg.
Daniel Loisance, M.D., Professor Emeritus, Former Head of the Cardiac Surgery Department at Henri Mondor Hospital Paris XII, Member of the Académie Nationale de Médecine
This remarkable work chronicles the scholarly and yet deeply personal account of the research achievements of one of our most respected cardiac surgeons. Although written for the general public, practicing physicians would gain a great deal by reading it.
Ralph B. Dilley, M.D., Surgeon-in-Chief, Scripps Green Hospital, Retired Clinical Professor of Surgery UCSD School of Medicine
Foreword by James L. Cox . . . v
Introduction: Exploring Uncharted Territory . . . 1
Chapter 1 Truth Will Win, But When . . . 9
Chapter 2 A Series of Fortunate Events, Encounters and Lessons . . . 17
Chapter 3 A Compelling New Pathway . . . 25
Chapter 4 Becoming an Investigator . . . 39
Chapter 5 Great Expectations . . . 49
Chapter 6 Discovery: Myocardial Protection and Blood Cardioplegia . . . 69
Chapter 7 Improvement: Cardioplegia Saves Lives . . . 89
Chapter 8 You Don’t Have to Die Of a Heart Attack . . . 105
Chapter 9 Restoring Life to a “Dead” Heart . . . 23
Chapter 10 Reoxygenation Injury: If a Little Oxygen is Good, is a Lot Better? . . . 147
Chapter 11 Back from the Dead: Sudden Death and the Lazarus Syndrome . . . 171
Chapter 12 Unwitnessed Arrest Part I: The Never Taken Pathway . . . 191
Chapter 13 Unwitnessed Arrest Part II: Expansion, Rejection and Future Realities . . . 205
Chapter 14 The Teacher’s Highest Reward . . . 219
Chapter 15 Unanticipated Interlude . . . 239
Chapter 16 Congestive Heart Failure: Education to Enactment . . . 255
Chapter 17 Congestive Heart Failure: Proving the Solution . . . 279
Chapter 18 Paco: Exploring the New Horizon to Change our Thinking . . . 305
Chapter 19 Art and Science: Nature’s Grand Design . . . 331
Chapter 20 The Helix and Heart Failure: The Dilated Heart, Footballs and Basketballs . . . 359
Chapter 21 Art and Science: The Helix and Heart Video . . . 381
Chapter 22 Diastolic Dysfunction: Contracting Longer but Not Better . . . 395
Chapter 23 Art and Science: The Cardiac Dance; Spirals of Life . . . 415
Chapter 24 The Case of the Missing Link: The Septum . . . 427
Chapter 25 Art and Science: Stonehenge and the Heart . . . 451
Chapter 26 The Helix and Cardiac Disease: The Riddle of Pacemakers . . . 469
Chapter 27 Life: My Art and My Science . . . 495
Epilogue: My Journey . . . 511
Reference List . . . 515
Illustration Credits . . . 533
Gerald Buckberg Biography . . . 535
Index
Introduction: Exploring Uncharted Territory . . . 1
Chapter 1 Truth Will Win, But When . . . 9
Chapter 2 A Series of Fortunate Events, Encounters and Lessons . . . 17
Chapter 3 A Compelling New Pathway . . . 25
Chapter 4 Becoming an Investigator . . . 39
Chapter 5 Great Expectations . . . 49
Chapter 6 Discovery: Myocardial Protection and Blood Cardioplegia . . . 69
Chapter 7 Improvement: Cardioplegia Saves Lives . . . 89
Chapter 8 You Don’t Have to Die Of a Heart Attack . . . 105
Chapter 9 Restoring Life to a “Dead” Heart . . . 23
Chapter 10 Reoxygenation Injury: If a Little Oxygen is Good, is a Lot Better? . . . 147
Chapter 11 Back from the Dead: Sudden Death and the Lazarus Syndrome . . . 171
Chapter 12 Unwitnessed Arrest Part I: The Never Taken Pathway . . . 191
Chapter 13 Unwitnessed Arrest Part II: Expansion, Rejection and Future Realities . . . 205
Chapter 14 The Teacher’s Highest Reward . . . 219
Chapter 15 Unanticipated Interlude . . . 239
Chapter 16 Congestive Heart Failure: Education to Enactment . . . 255
Chapter 17 Congestive Heart Failure: Proving the Solution . . . 279
Chapter 18 Paco: Exploring the New Horizon to Change our Thinking . . . 305
Chapter 19 Art and Science: Nature’s Grand Design . . . 331
Chapter 20 The Helix and Heart Failure: The Dilated Heart, Footballs and Basketballs . . . 359
Chapter 21 Art and Science: The Helix and Heart Video . . . 381
Chapter 22 Diastolic Dysfunction: Contracting Longer but Not Better . . . 395
Chapter 23 Art and Science: The Cardiac Dance; Spirals of Life . . . 415
Chapter 24 The Case of the Missing Link: The Septum . . . 427
Chapter 25 Art and Science: Stonehenge and the Heart . . . 451
Chapter 26 The Helix and Cardiac Disease: The Riddle of Pacemakers . . . 469
Chapter 27 Life: My Art and My Science . . . 495
Epilogue: My Journey . . . 511
Reference List . . . 515
Illustration Credits . . . 533
Gerald Buckberg Biography . . . 535
Index