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Atlas of fetal surgery
ELSEVIER
GYNECOWGY
European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology 72 (1997) l l l 112
Book review Current Perspectives on the Fetus as a Patient
Frank A. Chervenak and Asim Kurjak (Editors). Parthenon, London, 1996; 630 pp: ISBN 1-85070-742-1 Is it possible that a book about medicine and science can be so exciting? The answer is yes. Not surprisingly. these capable and experienced editors have once again provided an exciting and comprehensive book that is read almost breathlessly. This book has widely opened the door into the 'twilight zone' of medicine, or perhaps it would be better to say, into the 'dawn zone' between conception and birth. Every subject is covered and each chapter is a self contained discussion on development. diagnostics and therapy of conditions that has not so long ago sounded like science fiction. This statemenl can be specially applied to chapters about human yolk sac and placental haematomas, that contributes to a large extent to our knowledge about causes, prevention and diagnosis of spontaneous abortion. The same can be stated also about those chapters dealing with screening of fetal chromosomopathies in non-risk population by means of noninvasive detection of sonographic markers of chromosomal disorders. The section entitled, and rightly so "challenges in fetal therapy" enlightens in detail, exciting possibilities of fetal surgery in certain fetal malformations. Intrauterine growth retardation that still represents an unsolved and important problem is also covered in every aspect, from possible causes to the most recent possibilities of monitoring and treatment, including nitric oxide test and therap3 as a "hit' topic in perinatal medicine. The chapter on fetal radiology is very inslructive and is illustrated with excellent contrast radiograms. The importance of cooperation with other authorities in their fields (especially perinatal pathologists whose findings confirm or deny obstetrician's or ultrasonographer's finding) is obvious from the entire text. In this edition the section on clinical perinatology is also included and written with refreshing clarity helping us to extend our knowledge in this field that cannot be separated from embryonic and fetal development because it represents the outcome of these events. The purpose of such an edition is completely fulfilled It provides a source o[" theoretical considerations,, and more importantly, of practical in-
formation about diagnosis and management of many problems and conditions encountered ante- and postnatally. Therefore. it is advised not only to gynaecologists and obstetricians, but also to all those that have any connection with fetus and newborn in their daily work.
Pro/essor A. Ktajak. M.D., Ph.D. Pll S0301-2115196)02618-8
Atlas of Fetal Surgery
Michael Harrison (Editor). Chapman and Hall, New York, 1996 There is none better qualified that Michael Harrison to produce an atlas of fetal surgery. This book is a compilation of photographs of clinical experience, experimental animal work and selected colour transparencies from lectures given by members of the Fetal Treatment Center at the University of California, San Francisco during the last 18 years. The atlas readily conveys the sense that the enterprise has been an enormous uphill struggle with both success and failure but driven by Harrison's dedication and determination to overcome the clinical, financial and political obstacles to fetal surgery. if you are looking for a useful overview of the whole fetal surgery enterprise then this book will prove very useful but it is not intended to be a critical analysis of the subject which must be found elsewhere. Some of the pictures derived from video images are of a surprisingly poor definition but this should not detract from the wealth of quality images of human fetal surgery. Operative procedures and background concepts are richly illustrated by diagrams, cartoons and summary slides and the captions are written in simple, often non-technical, language. There are some curious omissions such as a lack of detailed prenatal sonograms which is surprising considering the radiological expertise in the fetal surgery team at UCSF. The lower figure on p, 92 looks more like a postnatally resected CCAM rather than an infant who has under
0301-2115 97 $17.00 <' 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All right~ reser\cd
l l2
Book reviews
gone fetal surgery as stated, there are a few minor textual/typographical errors (e.g. pp. 107, 141, 143 and 233) but these are not significant. The overall impression of this atlas is that of a collection of stimulating and exciting images of fetal surgery which should appeal to all who are involved in the management of fetuses and infants with structural malformations. Mark D. Stringer Leeds Pll S0301-2 l 15(96)02642-5
Evaluation and Treatment of the Infertile Male Grace M. Centola and Kenneth A. Ginsberg (Editors). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1996; pp.322; stg£50.00; ISBN 0-521-45059-4
The focus of this book is the evaluation and treatment of the infertile male. It is meant for the officebased physician who needs reference to the basic aspects of the investigation, evaluation and diagnosis of the male partner. According to the authors, current treatment options are provided. The editors believe that the diverse array of contributors to this book shows that treatment of the male as part of the infertile couple is a team effort. In order to meet the first goal of this book the authors start with a historical overview of andrology. Thereafter, a chapter on cell-cell interactions at fertilization provides a context for the chapters that follow. However, the chapters that follow are placed in quite an illogical sequence. The chapter on the urological evaluation of the infertile male should be the third one, followed by those on endocrinology and semen evalua-
tion. Thereafter, clinical diagnosis and treatment options should have been discussed closing off with the chapter on the female and psychological aspects. The presented sequence of chapters provide for a bumpy read. The first and last chapters seem to be in place whereas the rest are out of order. Despite this problem most of the chapters do provide a thorough treatment of the different topics. Due to recent major developments in treating the infertile male, i.e. ICSI, the chapter on micro-injection techniques is a little bit out of date. Although this problem is frequently encountered in a time-span in which ART, and especially 1CSI, is rapidly evolving I felt this issue could have been addressed more extensively. Similarly, the evaluation of the male could have been discussed in more detail. For instance, the effects of heat on spermatogenesis and in particular the negative influence of clothing on spermatogenesis are underestimated. The paragraph on varicocele is not balanced. It gives a description in favor of treatment, whereas for the time being, based on several controlled randomized reports in infertile couples as well as in adolescents, most andrologist do not promote treatment of a varicocele. The volume closes, in contrast with most other books discussing male infertility, with an enlightening description of the impact of infertility and its treatment on the psychological well-being of a man. Although, the 'Evaluation and Treatment of the Infertile Male' exhibits an illogical arrangement of topics, some of which could have been discussed in more detail, it provides a useful guide for the physicians who encounter this common medical problem. Joop S.E. Laven St. RadboudHospitalN~megen PO-Box 9101, 6 5 0 0 H B NUmegen Netherlands Pl1S0301-2115(96)02663-2
GYNECOWGY
European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology 72 (1997) l l l 112
Book review Current Perspectives on the Fetus as a Patient
Frank A. Chervenak and Asim Kurjak (Editors). Parthenon, London, 1996; 630 pp: ISBN 1-85070-742-1 Is it possible that a book about medicine and science can be so exciting? The answer is yes. Not surprisingly. these capable and experienced editors have once again provided an exciting and comprehensive book that is read almost breathlessly. This book has widely opened the door into the 'twilight zone' of medicine, or perhaps it would be better to say, into the 'dawn zone' between conception and birth. Every subject is covered and each chapter is a self contained discussion on development. diagnostics and therapy of conditions that has not so long ago sounded like science fiction. This statemenl can be specially applied to chapters about human yolk sac and placental haematomas, that contributes to a large extent to our knowledge about causes, prevention and diagnosis of spontaneous abortion. The same can be stated also about those chapters dealing with screening of fetal chromosomopathies in non-risk population by means of noninvasive detection of sonographic markers of chromosomal disorders. The section entitled, and rightly so "challenges in fetal therapy" enlightens in detail, exciting possibilities of fetal surgery in certain fetal malformations. Intrauterine growth retardation that still represents an unsolved and important problem is also covered in every aspect, from possible causes to the most recent possibilities of monitoring and treatment, including nitric oxide test and therap3 as a "hit' topic in perinatal medicine. The chapter on fetal radiology is very inslructive and is illustrated with excellent contrast radiograms. The importance of cooperation with other authorities in their fields (especially perinatal pathologists whose findings confirm or deny obstetrician's or ultrasonographer's finding) is obvious from the entire text. In this edition the section on clinical perinatology is also included and written with refreshing clarity helping us to extend our knowledge in this field that cannot be separated from embryonic and fetal development because it represents the outcome of these events. The purpose of such an edition is completely fulfilled It provides a source o[" theoretical considerations,, and more importantly, of practical in-
formation about diagnosis and management of many problems and conditions encountered ante- and postnatally. Therefore. it is advised not only to gynaecologists and obstetricians, but also to all those that have any connection with fetus and newborn in their daily work.
Pro/essor A. Ktajak. M.D., Ph.D. Pll S0301-2115196)02618-8
Atlas of Fetal Surgery
Michael Harrison (Editor). Chapman and Hall, New York, 1996 There is none better qualified that Michael Harrison to produce an atlas of fetal surgery. This book is a compilation of photographs of clinical experience, experimental animal work and selected colour transparencies from lectures given by members of the Fetal Treatment Center at the University of California, San Francisco during the last 18 years. The atlas readily conveys the sense that the enterprise has been an enormous uphill struggle with both success and failure but driven by Harrison's dedication and determination to overcome the clinical, financial and political obstacles to fetal surgery. if you are looking for a useful overview of the whole fetal surgery enterprise then this book will prove very useful but it is not intended to be a critical analysis of the subject which must be found elsewhere. Some of the pictures derived from video images are of a surprisingly poor definition but this should not detract from the wealth of quality images of human fetal surgery. Operative procedures and background concepts are richly illustrated by diagrams, cartoons and summary slides and the captions are written in simple, often non-technical, language. There are some curious omissions such as a lack of detailed prenatal sonograms which is surprising considering the radiological expertise in the fetal surgery team at UCSF. The lower figure on p, 92 looks more like a postnatally resected CCAM rather than an infant who has under
0301-2115 97 $17.00 <' 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All right~ reser\cd
l l2
Book reviews
gone fetal surgery as stated, there are a few minor textual/typographical errors (e.g. pp. 107, 141, 143 and 233) but these are not significant. The overall impression of this atlas is that of a collection of stimulating and exciting images of fetal surgery which should appeal to all who are involved in the management of fetuses and infants with structural malformations. Mark D. Stringer Leeds Pll S0301-2 l 15(96)02642-5
Evaluation and Treatment of the Infertile Male Grace M. Centola and Kenneth A. Ginsberg (Editors). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1996; pp.322; stg£50.00; ISBN 0-521-45059-4
The focus of this book is the evaluation and treatment of the infertile male. It is meant for the officebased physician who needs reference to the basic aspects of the investigation, evaluation and diagnosis of the male partner. According to the authors, current treatment options are provided. The editors believe that the diverse array of contributors to this book shows that treatment of the male as part of the infertile couple is a team effort. In order to meet the first goal of this book the authors start with a historical overview of andrology. Thereafter, a chapter on cell-cell interactions at fertilization provides a context for the chapters that follow. However, the chapters that follow are placed in quite an illogical sequence. The chapter on the urological evaluation of the infertile male should be the third one, followed by those on endocrinology and semen evalua-
tion. Thereafter, clinical diagnosis and treatment options should have been discussed closing off with the chapter on the female and psychological aspects. The presented sequence of chapters provide for a bumpy read. The first and last chapters seem to be in place whereas the rest are out of order. Despite this problem most of the chapters do provide a thorough treatment of the different topics. Due to recent major developments in treating the infertile male, i.e. ICSI, the chapter on micro-injection techniques is a little bit out of date. Although this problem is frequently encountered in a time-span in which ART, and especially 1CSI, is rapidly evolving I felt this issue could have been addressed more extensively. Similarly, the evaluation of the male could have been discussed in more detail. For instance, the effects of heat on spermatogenesis and in particular the negative influence of clothing on spermatogenesis are underestimated. The paragraph on varicocele is not balanced. It gives a description in favor of treatment, whereas for the time being, based on several controlled randomized reports in infertile couples as well as in adolescents, most andrologist do not promote treatment of a varicocele. The volume closes, in contrast with most other books discussing male infertility, with an enlightening description of the impact of infertility and its treatment on the psychological well-being of a man. Although, the 'Evaluation and Treatment of the Infertile Male' exhibits an illogical arrangement of topics, some of which could have been discussed in more detail, it provides a useful guide for the physicians who encounter this common medical problem. Joop S.E. Laven St. RadboudHospitalN~megen PO-Box 9101, 6 5 0 0 H B NUmegen Netherlands Pl1S0301-2115(96)02663-2