An Atlas of Advanced Surgical Techniques

Review of Recent Books chapters dealing with the basics of the field. These chapters vary greatly in detail from the very thorough discussions of embryology and vectocardiography to the rather general consideration of angiocardiography. All are well worth reading. I particularly liked the inclusion of a short chapter describing in detail the determination of blood pressure. Part I1 contains chapters on Congenital Defects; Part 111, Infectious Diseases; Part IV, Connective Tissue: Metabolic and Degenerative Diseases; Part V, Special Problems; Part VI, Surgery; Part VII, Appendix. All of the chapters reflect the selection of excellent authors. Consistent and careful editing is also apparent. The illustrations are of good quality in all chapters, excellent in most, and they supplement the text well. The references are thorough and arranged alphabetically at the end of each chapter. All of the chapters are well organized and comprehensive, easily understood, and enjoyably read. There is an interesting emphasis on some unusual areas. For example, the chapter on the relatively rare congenital atrioventricular block is longer than the combined chapters on defects of the atrial septum and endocardial cushion, defects of the ventricular septum, and left ventricular-right atrial communication. In the part on surgery, the chapters on postoperative syndromes and nursing care were informative and enjoyable additions. This book was not intended to be a surgical text, and the discussions of surgical therapy are limited for the most part to concepts rather than details. Surgeons interested in pediatric cardiology, however, will find this an excellent book for reference and organization of thought in the understanding of commonly encountered as well as rare entities. It is an excellent book for trainees at all levels.

Chicago

AN ATLAS OF ADVANCED SURGICAL TECHNIQUES. By Edward J. Beattie, Jr., M.D., and Steven G . Economou, M.D. W . B. Saunders, Philadelphia, 1968. 422 pp., 161 illus., $20.00.

Reuiewed by Bruce F. Baisch, M.D. The authors, along with eleven distinguished contributors, outline the stepby-step technique of thirty-five major surgical procedures. T h e A B C’s of technical procedure (the narrative) appear at all times on the reader’s left, the even-numbered page. Illustrative drawings-aften lacking clarity and contrast, but well labeled-appear on each odd-numbered page opposite the narration, providing ease of reference. T h e Atlas is arranged cephalad to caudad, proceeding from maxillectomy to hindquarter amputation, omitting only the heart and great vessels. A single progressive, generally acceptable, technique is outlined. T h e book is rather broad-based for the average practicing general surgeon and of little interest to the orthopedic, thoracic, urologic, or head and neck surgeon. Its principal value would be to surgical house officers as a quick “night before surgery” review.

Inglewood, Calif.

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THE ANNALS OF THORACIC SURGERY