The scientific literature includes thousands of journals on an extremely wide variety of topics. The electronic open access publication framework has revolutionized in the last years the way of disseminating scientific culture [1, 2]. Scientific journals are now easily and rapidly available and sometimes the fast dissemination of scientific evidence makes hard to remain abreast of the most recent scholarly developments [3]. Yet, the vast majority of the medical journals is strictly confined to specialized topics and in most cases the individual skills are well separated to each other.
In the field of anesthesiology, cardiovascular medicine, intensive care and resuscitation there are many renowned international journals [4] (Table 1).
Table 1.
Key features of selected journal focusing on anesthesiology, cardiovascular medicine, intensive care and resuscitation.
*Papers published in 2014; IF=impact factor.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery provides original coverage of recent progress in chest and cardiovascular surgery. It is the official journal of two of the largest American association in its specialty and maintains rigorous selection standard. Circulation is the journal of the American Heart Association (AHA). The journal publishes articles related to research in and the practice of cardiovascular diseases and covers all the topic of cardiology, from epidemiology and prevention to heart failure, arrhythmia and electrophysiology, hypertension, cardiovascular genetics, cardiovascular interventions,cardiovascular quality and outcome, and cardiovascular imaging. Moreover, AHA guidelines also appear in this journal.
Critical Care Medicine is the premier peer-reviewed, scientific publication in critical care medicine. It is the Official Journal of the Society of Critical Care Medicine. The journal covers all aspects of acute and emergency care for the critically ill or injured patient. The European Heart Journal is an official journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). The aim of the journal is to publish the highest quality material on all aspects of cardiovascular medicine. It includes articles related to research findings, reviews, clinical perspectives, editorials, and ESC guidelines. All these noted journals cover strictlycardiovascular topics.
The Journal of American College of Cardiology (JACC) publishes peer-reviewed articles highlighting all aspects of cardiovascular disease, including original clinical studies, experimental investigations with clear clinical relevance, state-of-the-art papers and viewpoints. Also this journal frequently features guidelines from the American College of Cardiology (ACC). The Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia (JCVA) is addressed to anesthesiologists who deal with patients undergoing surgical procedures. JCVA offer a multidisciplinary approach, with contributions from cardiac, vascular and thoracic surgeons, cardiologists, and other related specialists. Neurology is the official journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The journal's aim is to advance the field by presenting new basic and clinical research emphasizing knowledge on neurological practice.
Resuscitation is an interdisciplinary journal for the dissemination of clinical and basic science research relating to acute care medicine and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It is the official Journal of the European Resuscitation Council. The journal content is of interest to healthcare professionals working in critical care, emergency medicine, acute medicine, anaesthesia, cardiology and paediatrics. Stroke publishes reports of clinical and basic investigation of any aspect of the cerebral circulation and its diseases from many disciplines, including anesthesiology, critical care medicine, internal medicine, neurology, neurosurgery, nuclear medicine, radiology, rehabilitation, and vascular surgery. In this large and complex scenario Heart, Lung and Vessels enters quite boldly. Indeed, Heart, Lung and Vessels is a peer-reviewed open access academic journal founded in 2009 and which has already published 269 papers. It aims to improve diagnostic and therapeutic skills of clinicians within different specialties which are nonetheless strictly interrelated each other. The journal considers for publication Original Articles, Teaching Articles, Brief Reports, Reviews, Meta-Analyses, Expert Opinions, Editorials, Case Reports, Case Series, Letters to the Editor and Images in Clinical Medicine on all topics related to cardiothoracic and vascular surgery, intensive care and anesthesia together with cardiology, emergency and methodological papers. The journal combines the interests of more specialists and allows physicians of these areas to be updated on topics related to their specialties but not strictly confined to it. The Editorial Board Members are renowned specialists in the field of cardiology, pediatric cardiology, cardiac surgery, vascular surgery, intensive care, anesthesia, transplantation and immunology, new technologies,echocardiography, imaging and social media.
So, what advantages may have a journal that brings together more skills and specialties? First of all the ability to create a scientific network among multiple specialties, different but often related to each other. Secondly, the opportunity for the reader to be fully updated on topics of relevant clinical and scientific interest ranging across multiple specialties in the field of intensive care, emergency treatment and major surgical operations. The aim of the journal in fact is to contribute to the spread of knowledge in these specific fields of interest [5]. So, who would benefit from submitting a manuscript to the Heart, Lung and Vessels? Any researcher reporting an original article, a brief report, a review or also a meta-analysis in these medical fields is invited to submit his or her work to the Heart, Lung and Vessels as well as anyone wishing to appraise important surgical and medical issue through confrontation with specialists from multiple disciplines. Accordingly, anyone concerned tothis fields of interests should read regularly Heart, Lung and Vessels.
Heart, Lung and Vessels is dedicated to become an influential journal among these fields, to promote the development of the above disciplines and to improve the diagnostic and therapeutic skills and expertise of surgeons and clinicians. In as much as a good clinician aptly combines cognitive and manual skills, by relying on both his or her brain and hands, we are positive that the uniquely favorable combination of clinicians and researchers with expertise on heart, lung and vessels in such a journal will ensure its success and meritorious standing in the scholarly field.
Footnotes
Source of Support Nil.
Disclosures None declared.
Cite as: Peruzzi M, Frati G, Biondi-Zoccai G. Heart, Lung and Vessels... but brain and hands too! The case for a novel journal in the cardiovascular scholarly arena. Heart, Lung and Vessels. 2015;7 (3): 187-190
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