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Anesthesia for infants and children
Book Reviews Anesthesia for Infants and Children. By Robert M. Smith, M.D. 418 pages. C. V. Mosby Co. St.Louis, rgsg.
A Manual of Anaesthetic
$IZ.OO.
By providing a pediatric anesthesia,
comprehensive
text
Techniques.
By WilIiam J.
Pryor, M.B., CH.B., F.F.A.R.C.S. 228 pages. John Wright & Sons, Ltd. BristoI, Eng. 1959. $7.00.
on
In this manua1, an English anesthesioIogist has touched IightIy on the many aspects of the practice of anesthesia with no attempt at profound discussion. Because the author is British, many of the technics as we11 as the equipment described do not apply in the United States. Its usefuIness wiII be limited to physicians famiIiar with technics and procedures commonly used in anesthesioIogy.
Dr. Smith has made an outstanding contribution to this rapidly growing fieId. Assuming that his reader has a basic knowIedge of anesthetic principIes prior to undertaking the care of infants, it was possible to omit unnecessary detail. The book begins with a thorough discussion of the differences between infant and ad& physioIogy. One entire chapter is devoted to respiratory physioIogy in infants. From here the subject matter turns naturaIIy to preparation of the chiId for operation, preanesthetic medication and then to the anesthetic equipment which is so different from that of the aduIt. From these considerations, the book progresses to technics, choice of anesthetic and speciaI or unusual probIems reIated to chiIdren. The emphasis on surgical probIems related to infant pathoIogy should prove vaIuabIe to the anesthesiologist who treats chiIdren onIy occasionally. There is also a thorough discussion of fluid therapy and bIood repIacement during surgery and in the postoperative period. FinaIIy, there is an interesting chapter on pediatric surgica1 mortaIity. It is unfortunate that the text was written just prior to the widespread use of haIothane (FIuothane@), since this drug threatens to cause substantial changes in recommended procedures. It is heartening that a recognized authority advocates the use of expIosive drugs in the presence of cautery if the reIative safety of the patient warrants it. This book wiI1 undoubtedIy be a standard reference for pediatric anesthesia, usefu1 to a11 residents and practitioners administering anesthesia to chiIdren. The exceIIent bibIiography with each subject aIone is sufhcient to recommend the work. JOHN P. GARVIN, M.D.
WILLIAM BOOKS RECEIVED
HAMELBERG,
FOR
M.D.
REVIEW
AI1 books received wiII be acknowledged in this column. Insofar as possible, as space permits, books of special interest wiIl receive more extensive reviews.
Cancer and Allied Diseases of Infancy and Childhood. Edited by Irving M. Ariel, M.D. and George T. Pack, M.D., with 27 contributing authors. Brown & Co. Boston, 1960. $22.50.
605 pages. LittIe,
Interpersonal Relationships in the Hospital. Warner F. Bowers, M.D. 125 pages. CharIes C Thomas. SpringfieId, III., 1960. Mitra Operation for Cancer of the Cervix (Extraperltoneal Pelvic Lymphadenectomy and Radical Vaginal Hysterectomy). Subodh Mitra, M.B., D.M. 93 pages. CharIes C Thomas. SpringfieId, III., 1960. $6.00. Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology, Volume 2, Number 4. Advances in GynecoIogic Surgery edited by S. B. Gusberg, M.D.; Cesarean Section edited by Edwin J. De Costa, M.D. 1228 pages. Harper 8r Brothers. New York, rg5g. $18.00. Surgery in World War II: Neurosurgery, Volume 2. Edited by COI. John Boyd Coates, Jr., M.C. 705 pages. Ofice of the Surgeon General, Department of the Army. Washington, D. C., 1959. That the Patient May Know. An AtIas for Use by the physician in ExpIaining to the Patient. Harry F. DowIing, M.D., X.D. and Tom Jones, B.F.A. W. B. Saunders Co. PhiIadeIphia, x959. $7.50.
874
A Manual of Anaesthetic
$IZ.OO.
By providing a pediatric anesthesia,
comprehensive
text
Techniques.
By WilIiam J.
Pryor, M.B., CH.B., F.F.A.R.C.S. 228 pages. John Wright & Sons, Ltd. BristoI, Eng. 1959. $7.00.
on
In this manua1, an English anesthesioIogist has touched IightIy on the many aspects of the practice of anesthesia with no attempt at profound discussion. Because the author is British, many of the technics as we11 as the equipment described do not apply in the United States. Its usefuIness wiII be limited to physicians famiIiar with technics and procedures commonly used in anesthesioIogy.
Dr. Smith has made an outstanding contribution to this rapidly growing fieId. Assuming that his reader has a basic knowIedge of anesthetic principIes prior to undertaking the care of infants, it was possible to omit unnecessary detail. The book begins with a thorough discussion of the differences between infant and ad& physioIogy. One entire chapter is devoted to respiratory physioIogy in infants. From here the subject matter turns naturaIIy to preparation of the chiId for operation, preanesthetic medication and then to the anesthetic equipment which is so different from that of the aduIt. From these considerations, the book progresses to technics, choice of anesthetic and speciaI or unusual probIems reIated to chiIdren. The emphasis on surgical probIems related to infant pathoIogy should prove vaIuabIe to the anesthesiologist who treats chiIdren onIy occasionally. There is also a thorough discussion of fluid therapy and bIood repIacement during surgery and in the postoperative period. FinaIIy, there is an interesting chapter on pediatric surgica1 mortaIity. It is unfortunate that the text was written just prior to the widespread use of haIothane (FIuothane@), since this drug threatens to cause substantial changes in recommended procedures. It is heartening that a recognized authority advocates the use of expIosive drugs in the presence of cautery if the reIative safety of the patient warrants it. This book wiI1 undoubtedIy be a standard reference for pediatric anesthesia, usefu1 to a11 residents and practitioners administering anesthesia to chiIdren. The exceIIent bibIiography with each subject aIone is sufhcient to recommend the work. JOHN P. GARVIN, M.D.
WILLIAM BOOKS RECEIVED
HAMELBERG,
FOR
M.D.
REVIEW
AI1 books received wiII be acknowledged in this column. Insofar as possible, as space permits, books of special interest wiIl receive more extensive reviews.
Cancer and Allied Diseases of Infancy and Childhood. Edited by Irving M. Ariel, M.D. and George T. Pack, M.D., with 27 contributing authors. Brown & Co. Boston, 1960. $22.50.
605 pages. LittIe,
Interpersonal Relationships in the Hospital. Warner F. Bowers, M.D. 125 pages. CharIes C Thomas. SpringfieId, III., 1960. Mitra Operation for Cancer of the Cervix (Extraperltoneal Pelvic Lymphadenectomy and Radical Vaginal Hysterectomy). Subodh Mitra, M.B., D.M. 93 pages. CharIes C Thomas. SpringfieId, III., 1960. $6.00. Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology, Volume 2, Number 4. Advances in GynecoIogic Surgery edited by S. B. Gusberg, M.D.; Cesarean Section edited by Edwin J. De Costa, M.D. 1228 pages. Harper 8r Brothers. New York, rg5g. $18.00. Surgery in World War II: Neurosurgery, Volume 2. Edited by COI. John Boyd Coates, Jr., M.C. 705 pages. Ofice of the Surgeon General, Department of the Army. Washington, D. C., 1959. That the Patient May Know. An AtIas for Use by the physician in ExpIaining to the Patient. Harry F. DowIing, M.D., X.D. and Tom Jones, B.F.A. W. B. Saunders Co. PhiIadeIphia, x959. $7.50.
874