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Advances in Cardiopulmonary Diseases, Vol. 2
REVIEW OF RECENT BOOKS
ADVANCES IN CARDIOPULMONARY DISEASES, Vol. 2. Edited by A. L. Banyai, M . D . , and B . L . Gordon, M . D . Year Book Medical Publishers, Chicago, 1964. 347 pp., 93 illus., $12.00. Reviewed by Raymond J. Barrett, M.D. This volume is a compilation of selected lectures from the 1962 series of postgraduate courses of the American College of Chest Physicians. Attention will be paid primarily to those articles of surgical significance. Two chapters on pulmonary infections make a plea for immediate Gram classification of organisms in bacterial pneumonia with concomitant institution of presumptively correct antibiotic therapy-the latter to be modified 24 to 48 hours later when the results of culture and sensitivity tests are received. T h e use of acetyl cysteine is thought to offer considerable promise in the treatment of acute bronchopulmonary infections. Chapters on the “Mechanism of Breathing” and “Alveolar Gas Exchange” represent reviews of current knowledge, and an interesting paper on sarcoidosis concludes that it is probably not of infectious etiology, doubts the pine-pollen hypothesis, and suggests that it may be a hypersensitivity reaction. T h e field of tuberculosis is treated in a review which shows that tubercle bacilli resistant to the standard antituberculosis drugs can be eliminated in perhaps 50% of those who can tolerate secondary drugs and any necessary surgery. In those who refuse hospitalization, the use of secondary drugs can be expected to accomplish sputum conversion in no more than 10% to 15% of cases. T h e chapters on endoscopic problems in chest disease and postoperative problems in cardiopulmonary disease present mature assessment of the problems involved. This reviewer concurs with the belief that recourse to general anesthesia for all endoscopy is a confession of inadequacy and needlessly contributes to added expense and hazard in what should not become a major diagnostic procedure. A brief review of the pathology of congenital heart disease, while not all-inclusive, provides an organized, concise framework for the classification of these abnormalities. VOL. 1, NO. 2, MAR.,
1965
223
Review of Recent Books
Congenital cyanotic heart disease is well covered from the standpoint of physiology, diagnosis, and indications for surgery in a trio of related papers. T h e chapter entitled “Medical and Surgical Emergencies in the Newborn” covers cardiac problems and those conditions which simulate cardiac problems. T h e experience reported is extensive, and the recommendations are explicit. A report from Johns Hopkins covers the effectiveness of closed massage in cardiac arrest. Over a four-year period there were 280 instances of cardiac arrest occurring in 244 patients with a wide variety of primary illnesses. Twenty-five percent of the 244 patients survived and were discharged from the hospital. T h e volume concludes with a review of the current methods of (hopefully) curative and palliative surgical attack on carcinoma of the esophagus. Included is a description of the betatron and its possible advantages in radiotherapy of this disease. In assessing this volume one must state that all that is new is not necessarily good. Although the title would suggest new developments, the content actually represents a digest of currently acceptable thinking in the areas involved. This is all to the good, since ephemeral or tenuous conclusions do not deserve the dignity of a “hard cover.” The book is recommended. Detroit
PROGRESS IN ANGIOGRAPHY. By Manuel Viamonte, M.D., and Raymond E . Parks, M . D . Charles C Thomas, Springfield, Ill., 1964. 562 pp., 829.50. Reviewed by William Hanafee, M.D. T h e specialty course “Advances in Angiography” given in Miami on March 28-31, 1963, is now published in book form. The spirit of that course is reproduced by liberal, good-quality illustrations accompanying each author’s section and a verbatim transcription of the discussions. Unfortunately some presentations could not be reproduced well, since their major portions were based on cineangiography. Two instances of this problem in book presentation are illustrated by the sections of Herbert L. Abrams and F. Mason Sones, Jr. As with any book of multiple authorship, some sections are very clearly written, while others leave many questions unanswered. The 224
THE ANNALS OF THORACIC SURGERY
ADVANCES IN CARDIOPULMONARY DISEASES, Vol. 2. Edited by A. L. Banyai, M . D . , and B . L . Gordon, M . D . Year Book Medical Publishers, Chicago, 1964. 347 pp., 93 illus., $12.00. Reviewed by Raymond J. Barrett, M.D. This volume is a compilation of selected lectures from the 1962 series of postgraduate courses of the American College of Chest Physicians. Attention will be paid primarily to those articles of surgical significance. Two chapters on pulmonary infections make a plea for immediate Gram classification of organisms in bacterial pneumonia with concomitant institution of presumptively correct antibiotic therapy-the latter to be modified 24 to 48 hours later when the results of culture and sensitivity tests are received. T h e use of acetyl cysteine is thought to offer considerable promise in the treatment of acute bronchopulmonary infections. Chapters on the “Mechanism of Breathing” and “Alveolar Gas Exchange” represent reviews of current knowledge, and an interesting paper on sarcoidosis concludes that it is probably not of infectious etiology, doubts the pine-pollen hypothesis, and suggests that it may be a hypersensitivity reaction. T h e field of tuberculosis is treated in a review which shows that tubercle bacilli resistant to the standard antituberculosis drugs can be eliminated in perhaps 50% of those who can tolerate secondary drugs and any necessary surgery. In those who refuse hospitalization, the use of secondary drugs can be expected to accomplish sputum conversion in no more than 10% to 15% of cases. T h e chapters on endoscopic problems in chest disease and postoperative problems in cardiopulmonary disease present mature assessment of the problems involved. This reviewer concurs with the belief that recourse to general anesthesia for all endoscopy is a confession of inadequacy and needlessly contributes to added expense and hazard in what should not become a major diagnostic procedure. A brief review of the pathology of congenital heart disease, while not all-inclusive, provides an organized, concise framework for the classification of these abnormalities. VOL. 1, NO. 2, MAR.,
1965
223
Review of Recent Books
Congenital cyanotic heart disease is well covered from the standpoint of physiology, diagnosis, and indications for surgery in a trio of related papers. T h e chapter entitled “Medical and Surgical Emergencies in the Newborn” covers cardiac problems and those conditions which simulate cardiac problems. T h e experience reported is extensive, and the recommendations are explicit. A report from Johns Hopkins covers the effectiveness of closed massage in cardiac arrest. Over a four-year period there were 280 instances of cardiac arrest occurring in 244 patients with a wide variety of primary illnesses. Twenty-five percent of the 244 patients survived and were discharged from the hospital. T h e volume concludes with a review of the current methods of (hopefully) curative and palliative surgical attack on carcinoma of the esophagus. Included is a description of the betatron and its possible advantages in radiotherapy of this disease. In assessing this volume one must state that all that is new is not necessarily good. Although the title would suggest new developments, the content actually represents a digest of currently acceptable thinking in the areas involved. This is all to the good, since ephemeral or tenuous conclusions do not deserve the dignity of a “hard cover.” The book is recommended. Detroit
PROGRESS IN ANGIOGRAPHY. By Manuel Viamonte, M.D., and Raymond E . Parks, M . D . Charles C Thomas, Springfield, Ill., 1964. 562 pp., 829.50. Reviewed by William Hanafee, M.D. T h e specialty course “Advances in Angiography” given in Miami on March 28-31, 1963, is now published in book form. The spirit of that course is reproduced by liberal, good-quality illustrations accompanying each author’s section and a verbatim transcription of the discussions. Unfortunately some presentations could not be reproduced well, since their major portions were based on cineangiography. Two instances of this problem in book presentation are illustrated by the sections of Herbert L. Abrams and F. Mason Sones, Jr. As with any book of multiple authorship, some sections are very clearly written, while others leave many questions unanswered. The 224
THE ANNALS OF THORACIC SURGERY