<DIV><P>Pharmacology plays a pivotal role in the practice of cardiovascular anesthesiology. The perioperative management of cardiovascular surgical patients involves the regulation of the cardiovascular, endocrine, coagulation, fluid and ionic homeostasis and other systems. This new addition to the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists Monograph series is a collection of carefully selected reviews of recent advances in pharmacology. Coverage includes inotropic therapy, ß-adrenoreceptor antagonists, myocardial preconditioning, modulators of vascular tone, cardiac electrophysiology, coagulation management, diuretics, statins, and glucose management in cardiovascular surgery. Each of these topics has broad implications for cardiology, cardiac and vascular surgery, cardiac anesthesiology, and intensive care medicine.</P></DIV>