- Email: [email protected]
Barrett's esophagus: Pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
Book Reviews
Book Reviews (cont’d) Surgical Techniques Illustrated: A Comparative Atlas. By Ronald A. Malt, MD. Ardmore Medical Books, 1985.962 pages. Surgical Techniques Illustrated was published from 1975 to 1981 as a series of periodicals. These periodicals described and illustrated various general surgical procedures, ranging from parotidectomy to sphincter-saving rectal procedures. The series is out of print, but numerous requests for the periodicals stimulated Ronald Malt to collect these surgical techniques and publish them in a single volume atlas. In addition to the previously published periodicals, two others have been added which cover hepatectomy and radical neck dissection. The techniques used by various surgeons for the same procedure are described. For example, seven distinguished surgeons have described and illustrated their technique of hiatal herniorrhaphy. Descriptions of lung resections are included, as well as major general surgical operations. The operations are described in a step-bystep sequence with superb line drawings illustrating each step. Some, but not all, of the contributors have added a discussion of the indications for and results of their operative experience. This book will be most useful to the practicing surgeon and to the surgical residents. It serves as an excellent source of current operative techniques, and includes drawings that have been prepared by some of the best medical illustrators. Dr. Malt has performed a great service in collecting the periodicals into one volume. John L. Sawyers, MD Nashville, Tennessee Surgical Care II. By Robert E. Condon and Jerome J. DeCosse. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1985. 422 pages. $64.50. This book is designed as a follow-up and companion edition to the authors’ previous work, which was entitled Surgical Care I: A Physiologic Approach to Management. It has as its goal the discussion of physiology as the basis for rational care of various surgical disease processes. The editors have put together an impressive group of authors, many of whom are considered the ultimate authorities on the topics being discussed. The structure of each section is to begin with basic physiologic and anatomic discussions of the problem at hand. This has gradually developed into a clinical correlate and finally therapy is discussed based on the underlying physiology. Although most chapters carry this design out in a clear and concise manner, occasionally the amount of detail and extremely basic nature of the physiology under discussion tends to detract from the overall presentation. Since it is difficult to completely bridge the gap between the knowledge, or lack thereof, of the medical student just embarking on the study of surgery and the fully trained surgeons in practice, perhaps more emphasis should be placed on the needs of more senior surgical
Vd~152,July1986
residents and surgical staff. The best example of the appropriate balance between basic science and clinical correlation is the chapter on peptic ulcer syndromes. In this chapter, the authors give just enough basic physiology to make the remainder of their discussion understandable and yet do not make the reader feel that he is reviewing a medical school course in physiology. In summary, this is an excellent book which carries out its stated objective, that is, to correlate physiology with clinical treatment. Although it should not be used solely as the textbook on the treatment of the disease processes under discussion, it does provide a solid basis for understanding the more clinical discussions found in other textbooks. George W. Machiedo, MD Newark, New Jersey Barrett’s Esophagus: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Management. Edited by Stuart Jon Spechler and Raj K. Goyal. New York: Elsevier, 1985.247 pages. $45.00. This work consists of presentations at a one day national symposium on Barrett’s esophagus held in January 1984. The transcripts of the discussions that followed the presentations make up the last section in the book. The topics in the 19 chapters cover virtually every aspect of the abnormality, including its definition, etiology and pathogenesis, pathology, clinical diagnosis, prevalence, cancer risk, medical and surgical management, and complications. The chapters are written by authors with an authoritative perspective on the problem, as most have published papers on the subject they present. The chapters are generally well illustrated with tables, graphs, radiographs, endoscopic photographs, manometric recordings, and gross and histopathologic specimens. Of particular note and interest in this book are the chapters on pathogenesis (Chapter 3), dysplasia (Chapter 13), regression (Chapters 13 and 191, and adenocarcinoma (Chapter 14). Perhaps the risk of cancer in Barrett’s is underplayed by Spechler in Chapter 16, but this is more than balanced by the discussions in Chapter 18 by Skinner, Walther, and Little on the surgical treatment of Barrett’s esophagus. Relatively little new information not already available in the literature is presented in the chapters, although the discussion section includes some information that was not yet published at the time of the meeting. However, the book brings the various topics together in one place, and the references provide a good review of the literature. Although a number of review articles have appeared in major medical journals in the past few years, this book has the clear advantage due to ita breadth, depth, and illustrations. I heartily recommend it to those with an interest in the increasingly important problem of Barrett’s esophagus. It is well worth its cover price. John L. Cameron, MD Baltimore, Maryland
151
Book Reviews (cont’d) Surgical Techniques Illustrated: A Comparative Atlas. By Ronald A. Malt, MD. Ardmore Medical Books, 1985.962 pages. Surgical Techniques Illustrated was published from 1975 to 1981 as a series of periodicals. These periodicals described and illustrated various general surgical procedures, ranging from parotidectomy to sphincter-saving rectal procedures. The series is out of print, but numerous requests for the periodicals stimulated Ronald Malt to collect these surgical techniques and publish them in a single volume atlas. In addition to the previously published periodicals, two others have been added which cover hepatectomy and radical neck dissection. The techniques used by various surgeons for the same procedure are described. For example, seven distinguished surgeons have described and illustrated their technique of hiatal herniorrhaphy. Descriptions of lung resections are included, as well as major general surgical operations. The operations are described in a step-bystep sequence with superb line drawings illustrating each step. Some, but not all, of the contributors have added a discussion of the indications for and results of their operative experience. This book will be most useful to the practicing surgeon and to the surgical residents. It serves as an excellent source of current operative techniques, and includes drawings that have been prepared by some of the best medical illustrators. Dr. Malt has performed a great service in collecting the periodicals into one volume. John L. Sawyers, MD Nashville, Tennessee Surgical Care II. By Robert E. Condon and Jerome J. DeCosse. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1985. 422 pages. $64.50. This book is designed as a follow-up and companion edition to the authors’ previous work, which was entitled Surgical Care I: A Physiologic Approach to Management. It has as its goal the discussion of physiology as the basis for rational care of various surgical disease processes. The editors have put together an impressive group of authors, many of whom are considered the ultimate authorities on the topics being discussed. The structure of each section is to begin with basic physiologic and anatomic discussions of the problem at hand. This has gradually developed into a clinical correlate and finally therapy is discussed based on the underlying physiology. Although most chapters carry this design out in a clear and concise manner, occasionally the amount of detail and extremely basic nature of the physiology under discussion tends to detract from the overall presentation. Since it is difficult to completely bridge the gap between the knowledge, or lack thereof, of the medical student just embarking on the study of surgery and the fully trained surgeons in practice, perhaps more emphasis should be placed on the needs of more senior surgical
Vd~152,July1986
residents and surgical staff. The best example of the appropriate balance between basic science and clinical correlation is the chapter on peptic ulcer syndromes. In this chapter, the authors give just enough basic physiology to make the remainder of their discussion understandable and yet do not make the reader feel that he is reviewing a medical school course in physiology. In summary, this is an excellent book which carries out its stated objective, that is, to correlate physiology with clinical treatment. Although it should not be used solely as the textbook on the treatment of the disease processes under discussion, it does provide a solid basis for understanding the more clinical discussions found in other textbooks. George W. Machiedo, MD Newark, New Jersey Barrett’s Esophagus: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Management. Edited by Stuart Jon Spechler and Raj K. Goyal. New York: Elsevier, 1985.247 pages. $45.00. This work consists of presentations at a one day national symposium on Barrett’s esophagus held in January 1984. The transcripts of the discussions that followed the presentations make up the last section in the book. The topics in the 19 chapters cover virtually every aspect of the abnormality, including its definition, etiology and pathogenesis, pathology, clinical diagnosis, prevalence, cancer risk, medical and surgical management, and complications. The chapters are written by authors with an authoritative perspective on the problem, as most have published papers on the subject they present. The chapters are generally well illustrated with tables, graphs, radiographs, endoscopic photographs, manometric recordings, and gross and histopathologic specimens. Of particular note and interest in this book are the chapters on pathogenesis (Chapter 3), dysplasia (Chapter 13), regression (Chapters 13 and 191, and adenocarcinoma (Chapter 14). Perhaps the risk of cancer in Barrett’s is underplayed by Spechler in Chapter 16, but this is more than balanced by the discussions in Chapter 18 by Skinner, Walther, and Little on the surgical treatment of Barrett’s esophagus. Relatively little new information not already available in the literature is presented in the chapters, although the discussion section includes some information that was not yet published at the time of the meeting. However, the book brings the various topics together in one place, and the references provide a good review of the literature. Although a number of review articles have appeared in major medical journals in the past few years, this book has the clear advantage due to ita breadth, depth, and illustrations. I heartily recommend it to those with an interest in the increasingly important problem of Barrett’s esophagus. It is well worth its cover price. John L. Cameron, MD Baltimore, Maryland
151