perioperative medicine a. nicholls and i. wilson (eds) 185 × 105 mm. pp. 384. illustrated. 2000....

Perioperative Medicine A. Nicholls and I. Wilson eds) 185 3 105 mm. Pp. 384. Illustrated. 2000. Oxford: Oxford University Press. £19´95. This book deals with the medical care of the surgical patient and is aimed at junior surgeons and anaesthetists. It is divided into four sections: general medical issues on surgical wards, preoperative care of patients with chronic medical disorders, postoperative complications and sensible pre- scribing. The book is easy to read with the major headings and pages listed at the beginning of each chapter, the use of bullet points and numerous clearly presented tables. Some chapters would have bene®ted from the use of ¯ow diagrams and increased cross-referencing between related chapters and issues. There are a few areas of controversy regarding resuscitation decisions and preoptimization of high-risk patients and there are one or two surprising omissions in the cardiac sections, such as the value of troponin measure- ments. Overall it is a fairly comprehensive book and the guidelines represent safe, pragmatic and acceptable prac- tice. The sections on informed consent, teamwork, ¯uid management, treatment of postoperative pain and nausea, how and which antibiotics to prescribe and the use of physiotherapy deserve speci®c mention. Issues of assess- ment of chronic and acute medical conditions are well covered, along with ®rst-line management, reassessment and advice on when to refer to a specialist or ask for more senior help. Junior surgical staff will ®nd this practical handbook a valuable source of reference and advice. J. Brittenden Ward 36 Aberdeen Royal In®rmary Foresterhill Aberdeen AB25 2ZG UK Transplantation Surgery N. S. Hakim and G. M. Danovitch eds) 275 3 200 mm. Pp. 450. Illustrated. 2001. London: Springer. £80´00. This book is based on the experience of many distinguished authors working in the ®eld of transplantation medicine and surgery. It contains 21 chapters that provide detailed information on various aspects of transplantation, including new technologies such as laparoscopic nephrectomy, non-heart-beating kidney donation and living-related liver transplantation. In addition important issues in transplantation immunology, organ preservation and immunosuppression are highlighted. This book, therefore, contains a broad coverage of aspects related to transplantation. Each chapter begins with an outline of the aims and ®nishes with a number of questions. In this way the authors succeed in focusing attention on the most important sections. The chapters are well referenced. All in all this is an excellent book that deserves recognition and widespread use. J. N. M. IJzermans Department of Surgery Dijkzigt Hospital Dr Molewaterplein 40 3015 GD Rotterdam The Netherlands Operating within the Law B. Campbell, K. Callum and N. A. Peacock 210 3 149 mm. Pp. 254. 2001. Shifnal: TFM Publishing. £24´95. This guide appears at a time when there is an ever- increasing probability of surgeons encountering litigation. Much of its appeal is that it is more comprehensive than a pocketbook and less daunting than an exhaustive tome. It is didactic, clear and well laid out. The text follows a logical sequence and includes a list of references and suggestions for further reading at the end of each chapter. I found the appendices e.g. `Draft structure of a medical report') particularly useful. The authors make extensive use of actual cases to clarify what otherwise might seem perplexing problems and confusing issues. Surgeons may `smile smugly' page 35) to read that even lawyers can be `sent into a spin' page 39) by the intricacies of surgical litigation. This book is eminently readable and is in every way a practical guide to the subject. S. Homer-Vanniasinkam Vascular Surgical Unit The General In®rmary at Leeds Great George Street Leeds LS1 3EX UK Facial Rejuvenation P. J. Carniol ed.) 260 3 182 mm. Pp. 446. Illustrated. 2000. Chichester: Wiley-Liss. £139´00. In his preface, the editor, Paul Carniol, points the reader towards `a multitude of new techniques and technology that have altered and improved our ability to rejuvenate our patients'. He has brought together authors with extensive experience of various procedures in an attempt to highlight the advances and variations in technology. This book, Book reviews 1656 ã 2001 Blackwell Science Ltd British Journal of Surgery 2001, 88, 1656±1657

perioperative medicine a. nicholls and i. wilson (eds) 185 × 105 mm. pp. 384. illustrated. 2000....

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