Oxford Handbook of Anaesthesia, 3rd Edition

ISBN: 9780199584048
ISBN-10: 0199584044
Copyright: 2011
Edition: 3rd
Editors: Allman, Keith G., Wilson, Iain H.,
Doody's Expert Review    Score: 95
Reviewer: Zdravka Zafirova,  MD  (University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine)
Description
This is the third revised and updated edition of a concise pocket guide to the practice of anesthesiology. This edition contains new chapters, reflecting advances in the field, and new contributors, presenting versatile perspectives on the subjects.
Purpose
Novices as well as experienced practitioners in anesthesia find themselves in need of easily accessible information on wide range of common problems encountered in the daily clinical practice. The book is intended as a resource for up-to-date advice, based on the current state of understanding of perioperative care.
Audience
In the preface, the editors direct the book at those who have mastered basic anesthetic techniques, to supplement and reinforce their proficiency. Additionally, trainees in anesthesia at any stage of their education will find it helpful in supplying theoretical and practical guidance for daily management, as well as in preparation for examinations as a quick review. The editors and the contributors are experts in the field and provide multifaceted, balanced views on the topics.
Features
The book covers an impressive array of topics on the entire spectrum of perioperative care. The succinct writing style, thin pages, and pocket format confer portability despite the comprehensive thematic range. The bullet-point layout and the extensive use of color-highlighted tables, summarizing essential information, enhance the ease of access to relevant data. The handbook is divided into sections, leading with preoperative assessment and preparation for anesthesia. This section addresses not only the standard preoperative preparation subjects and organ systems affecting perioperative management, it also reflects on anesthetic risk and issues of consent, on interpretation of data, and evidence-based practice. The sections on anesthesia for various surgical procedures by specialty, on obstetric and pediatric anesthesia, are followed by a review of anesthetic emergencies and critical care, practical management, pain management, and regional anesthesia. The book concludes with drug formulary and overview of anesthetic data. The chapters are updated and new information is added to reflect the advances in the perioperative arena, including growing utilization of laparoscopy and robotic assistance in surgery, expansion of interventional radiology, and use of ultrasound imaging for regional anesthesia. The portable format predictably places limits on extensive use of illustrations and their print quality. Nevertheless, the well-selected graphs, diagrams, drawings, and ultrasound images are valuable educational tools, especially in the chapter on regional anesthesia.
Assessment
This is an excellent guide to anesthesia. Trainees and experienced practitioners will find it valuable in providing them with information and advice on the management of wide range of issues in their daily practice.
Review Questionnaire
Range Question Score
1-10 Are the author's objectives met? 10
1-10 Rate the worthiness of those objectives. 10
1-5 Is this written at an appropriate level? 5
1-5 Is there significant duplication? (1=significant, 5=insignificant) 5
1-5 Are there significant omissions? (1=significant, 5=insignificant) 4
1-5 Rate the authority of the authors. 5
1-5 Are there sufficient illustrations? 5
1-5 Rate the pedagogic value of the illustrations. 3
1-5 Rate the print quality of the illustrations. 4
1-5 Are there sufficient references? 5
1-5 Rate the currency of the references. 5
1-5 Rate the pertinence of the references. 5
1-5 Rate the helpfulness of the index. 5
1-5 If important in this specialty, rate the physical appearance of the book 4
1-10 Is this a worthwhile contribution to the field? 10
1-10 If this is a 2nd or later edition, is this new edition needed? 10