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Anaesthesia — A to Z
AmbulatorySurgery1994; 2:172
Book r e v i e w A n a e s t h e s i a - A to Z
Steven M Yent&, Nicholas P Hirsch and Gary B Smith
Butterworth-Heinemann, 1993, 473 pp, £55.00 ISBN 0 7506 0174 4
This book describes itself as 'An Encyclopaedia of Principles and Practice'. It covers an enormous range of topics related to anaesthesia. These include basic physiology, pharmacology, anatomy, physics, statistics, clinical anaesthesia, equipment, medicine, intensive care, and even history. It is aimed at candidates for the final Fellowship examination, but it may also be of use to those revising for the first two parts and those teaching them. The topics are covered alphabetically, and, with such a wide range, they cannot be covered at length. References are few but carefully chosen for their review value. It is a book to refer to rather than read through. First I checked the things I knew a lot about - the basics were outlined neatly but it does not aim to cover everything to the last detail so would not satisfy the expert. Bold type denotes cross references which help to expand without repetition,
but make looking for specific information rather a treasure hunt. The summaries would be good bases for essay answers. I then looked up things I do not like to confess to having forgotten, and found enough information was given in a concise and stimulating way. The basic sciences are covered well - perhaps better than specific clinical aspects. I found almost everything I thought of looking up. This is an unusual book and it works. It is well written with good diagrams. I was impressed by the range and the amount of information covered so succinctly. It is good value for the scope of its content. It would be a useful revision aid for all examination candidates, their tutors and even all anaesthetists. The final accolade must be that, having written this review, I put it by my bed to dip into again! Jean M Millar
© 1994 Butterworth-HeinemannLtd 0966-6532/94/030172-01
Consultant Anaesthetist, Nuffield Department of Anaesthetists, Oxford
Book r e v i e w A n a e s t h e s i a - A to Z
Steven M Yent&, Nicholas P Hirsch and Gary B Smith
Butterworth-Heinemann, 1993, 473 pp, £55.00 ISBN 0 7506 0174 4
This book describes itself as 'An Encyclopaedia of Principles and Practice'. It covers an enormous range of topics related to anaesthesia. These include basic physiology, pharmacology, anatomy, physics, statistics, clinical anaesthesia, equipment, medicine, intensive care, and even history. It is aimed at candidates for the final Fellowship examination, but it may also be of use to those revising for the first two parts and those teaching them. The topics are covered alphabetically, and, with such a wide range, they cannot be covered at length. References are few but carefully chosen for their review value. It is a book to refer to rather than read through. First I checked the things I knew a lot about - the basics were outlined neatly but it does not aim to cover everything to the last detail so would not satisfy the expert. Bold type denotes cross references which help to expand without repetition,
but make looking for specific information rather a treasure hunt. The summaries would be good bases for essay answers. I then looked up things I do not like to confess to having forgotten, and found enough information was given in a concise and stimulating way. The basic sciences are covered well - perhaps better than specific clinical aspects. I found almost everything I thought of looking up. This is an unusual book and it works. It is well written with good diagrams. I was impressed by the range and the amount of information covered so succinctly. It is good value for the scope of its content. It would be a useful revision aid for all examination candidates, their tutors and even all anaesthetists. The final accolade must be that, having written this review, I put it by my bed to dip into again! Jean M Millar
© 1994 Butterworth-HeinemannLtd 0966-6532/94/030172-01
Consultant Anaesthetist, Nuffield Department of Anaesthetists, Oxford