Contents -- Foreword -- Preface -- Acknowledgements -- Chapter 1 The Development of Cardiothoracic Surgical Nursing -- References -- Chapter 2 Epidemiology of Cardiac and Respiratory Diseases -- Cardiac disease -- Respiratory disease -- Epidemiology and risk factors -- References -- Further reading -- Chapter 3 Applied Respiratory and Cardiac Physiology -- Respiratory system -- Cardiac physiology -- Cardiovascular regulatory mechanisms -- References -- Chapter 4 Pre-operative Preparation -- The stress response -- The pre-admission clinic -- Fitness for surgery -- Physiological assessment -- Nutritional assessment -- Special pre-operative issues -- Issues regarding risk and outcome -- Psychosocial assessment -- References -- Further reading -- Chapter 5 Intra-operative Issues -- The anaesthetic -- Cardiac surgery -- Thoracic surgery -- References -- Chapter 6 Post-operative Care following Cardiothoracic Surgery -- Pulmonary changes following cardiothoracic surgery -- Specific care issues following cardiac surgery -- Specific care issues following thoracic surgery -- Interventions to optimise pulmonary function following cardiothoracic surgery -- Chest drainage -- Fluid and electrolyte changes following cardiothoracic surgery -- Pain control following cardiothoracic surgery -- Post-operative infection -- References -- Further reading -- Appendix: Post-operative assessment issues following cardiac surgery -- Chapter 7 Returning Home -- Earlier discharge -- Patient education -- Support strategies -- Promoting patient confidence -- References -- Further reading -- Index.