JOPLIN, Mo. – Freeman Health System’s Dr. Vigyan Bang, board-certified interventional cardiologist, has co-edited and co-written a massive medical textbook he hopes will help cardiologists better treat cardiovascular diseases plaguing 500 million people worldwide.

As the book’s title implies, the stated goal of “CSI Cardiology Update 2022” is to keep cardiologists updated with the latest medical and scientific updates in the field of cardiology. 

“Cardiology is rapidly evolving. In many ways it’s faster than most of us can keep up with,” Dr. Bang said. “That’s unique and it’s why it’s my favorite field in medicine. Every question that a patient may ask we are able to answer, most times, with scientific data. But as a function of that there is so much knowledge and information that comes out every year that the onus is upon us as cardiologists to keep up to speed so we can provide the most accurate and updated care for our patients.”

Published by the Cardiological Society of India and written in English, the 1,600-page book consists of 150 chapters written by 250 prominent cardiologists from across the world, including Dr. Bang, who penned three book chapters covering heart and valve diseases. 

“I’ve never been a part of a book like this before,” Dr. Bang said. His father, world-renowned Cardiologist Vijay Bang, serves as the book’s editor-in-chief. “It’s well known to have textbooks in cardiology, but what’s unique about this one is that it’s not just a textbook covering historical aspects but an actual update on the most cutting-edge happenings in the cardiology field. It covers each topic in very minute detail.” 

Being so intimately involved with the two-volume book has helped Dr. Bang hone his own craft and skills at Freeman Heart & Vascular Center.

“Reading and writing and editing this book have really helped me with my own patients – providing them with the most cutting-edge treatment for their heart conditions,” he said. “I think this is where this book can really help lots of people.” 

It took roughly eight months to complete the book from start to finish.

“We drew up an outline and then reached out to the leaders in the field – in India, in Europe, in the U.S. – asking them what topics they wanted to write about,” Dr. Bang said, “We gave them enough time to write up an extensive chapter. After that, it was assembling and editing it.”

The 2022 update isn’t just a one-and-done project, however. 

“We’re already working on the next update,” Dr. Bang said. “There will be a 2024, a 2025, a 2026 – every year it will be updated.”

Working alongside his father, who is based in India and serves as the Cardiological Society of India’s president, was a vastly rewarding experience. 

“All throughout my career I have looked up to him, and the coolest part was to be able to work with him,” Dr. Bang said. “I learned a lot from him.”

The book, which is currently available on Amazon.com, has been both a financial and spiritual success. 

“As cardiologists, I think we owe it to our patients to continue to improve and grow so we keep getting better each day and learn better ways to save the lives of our patients,” Dr. Bang said.