- Email: [email protected]
Cancer Pain (Clinical Pain Management)
Book reviews
I. Barker Sheffield, UK E-mail: [email protected] doi:10.1093/bja/aep327
Cancer Pain (Clinical Pain Management), 2nd Edn. N. Sykes, M. I. Bennett and C.-S. Yuan (editors). Published by Hodder Arnold, London, UK. Pp. 443; indexed; illustrated. Price £99.00. ISBN 978-0-340-94007-5.
This book is one of four in the second edition of the series ‘Clinical Pain Management’. The other volumes cover different aspects of pain management—acute,
chronic, and practical procedures—to provide a comprehensive overview of most of the important areas of pain management. This series overall is an excellent addition to pain literature and this book—Cancer Pain—is no exception. Despite multiple, international authors, the editors have managed to present a consistent style throughout, which significantly adds to the readability of the book. The book has 30 chapters divided into four sections. The first section covers general areas, from the basic neurobiology of cancer pain to epidemiology and ethics. The assessment of cancer pain is comprehensive and psychological evaluation is also considered. The role of multidisciplinary teams in managing cancer pain is considered, including service design issues that may impact on delivery of care. The second section looks in some detail at pharmacological therapies for cancer pain. This is a very useful section for the practicing clinician with the chapters on opioids being particularly interesting. The third section looks at a wide range of non-drug therapies for cancer pain, including neurodestructive techniques and stimulation therapies, including TENS and spinal cord stimulation (SCS). A chapter on the use of non-destructive spinal analgesia would have been useful, particular as intrathecal drug delivery is used much more commonly than SCS in cancer pain management. Other areas that are also usefully discussed include complementary therapies, psychological interventions, and control of other symptoms that often co-exist with cancer pain. The final section looks at cancer pain management in special situations, including paediatrics, the elderly, managing the terminal phase, and, at the other end of the spectrum, cancer survivors suffering from ongoing pain. The challenging area of managing pain in patients with cancer and substance abuse problems is also addressed. Pain management in the community is a helpful chapter for specialists, who may be more used to managing pain in the hospital setting. The chapter format, where each chapter has a contents list and bulleted key learning points, is clear. Chapters are well referenced, and a particularly useful feature is the highlighting of important references within the reference list. Another important feature of this book is the grading of published evidence, using the Bandolier system, which aids busy clinicians in critically evaluating the mass of literature when deciding on best practice. Overall, this volume is not only a very accessible, high-quality reference book, but also a valuable practical aid to clinicians in the day-to-day management of cancer pain. This book should be an excellent resource for both trainees and consultants managing cancer pain. This second edition certainly deserves a place in the library and is likely to be regularly used, both for its
906
Downloaded from http://bja.oxfordjournals.org/ at NERL on April 13, 2015
heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or post-partum haemorrhage. A short history is given followed by the usual investigations. The format of the book makes the ECGs and X-rays really quite small, and one wonders whether a CD could be included in the second edition. Each case is followed by questions (with answers) on salient features, investigations, optimization, and anaesthetic management with not a little exploration of the pathophysiology of the patient’s presenting condition. Each long case is followed by three very typical short cases, to choose at random: Jehovah’s Witness, aspiration under general anaesthesia, and emergency Caesarean section. Again typical oral questions are presented accompanied by typical (correct) answers. After the three short cases come four ‘clinical science’ questions covering clinical applications of anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and clinical measurement/physics. Thus, the layout of each question set is the same as the current pattern of the final FRCA examination orals. Only the commissionaire in uniform and glass of dubious white wine at the end of the day are missing. Furthermore, the questions are typical of the examination, the answers typical of the candidates who pass. Is this a good textbook? I think that depends on how the candidate prepares for the exam. It certainly sets the scene and accurately reflects the standard, but in my opinion the best way to refine the technique of oral examination performance is to have practice examinations. Having said that, it is well known that candidates find it difficult to have practice exams in the science subjects because a lot of good clinicians do not feel very confident examining these subjects, so perhaps the book will help teachers to prepare mock orals. It is not a theory textbook, it is not comprehensive, and it is no substitute for wide reading and wide, informed discussion. It is typical of the FRCA exam; I think it will be useful to teachers and very useful to many candidates in the last month or two leading up to the day out at Red Lion Square. The best advert for the book will be when a colleague says ‘it helped me’. One of my successful trainees has already sold on her copy.
Book reviews
direct clinical relevance and also for its scientific evaluation of the subject area. L. A. Colvin Edinburgh, UK E-mail: [email protected] doi:10.1093/bja/aep328
Oxford Handbook of Critical Care, 3rd Edn. M. Singer and A. R. Webb (editors). Published by Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Pp. 669; indexed: illustrated. Price £27.95. ISBN 978-0-19-923533-9.
907
N. R. Webster Aberdeen, UK E-mail: [email protected] doi:10.1093/bja/aep329
Downloaded from http://bja.oxfordjournals.org/ at NERL on April 13, 2015
This is the third edition of the Oxford Handbook of Critical Care. I think, probably by coincidence, I reviewed the second edition of this book for this Journal and commented that I was not sure what I was going to be able to say about the book as the previous edition had been so well reviewed and also well received by the practitioners of critical care medicine. Therefore, my task now is doubly difficult. This edition features a range of new topics, including outreach support, admission criteria, infection control, tissue perfusion monitoring, echocardiography, and survivor follow-up. However, all chapters have been revised to reflect advances in critical care. The chapters keep the same format as the previous edition and the outside of the book looks almost identical to the second edition. There are now 38 chapters covering every aspect of critical care medicine from how to set up an ICU ventilator to communication with relatives. It is all there and as it says on the cover it is indeed detailed and authoritative. The page total has also increased slightly to 669 and as before it has a detailed index and also a listing of chapter headings both at the front of the book and on the back cover. There are still quite a few blank pages which I learnt from reviewing the previous edition are there to permit notes to be written and for the insertion of ‘local information’. This edition has retained the highlighted ‘key trials’ and the ‘see also’ sections. These two aspects allow those interested to expand on the facts obtained from the particular chapter and make the book more useful
than its small size would suggest. The references and key trials all appear to have been fully updated. As in the previous edition, it is a small, plastic covered book which although quite thick would certainly fit in a pocket. There is a web address for the Oxford Handbook series on the back cover and when this is consulted it suggested that there were some titles available for use on PDAs. In my opinion, this would be a perfect medium for this type of book. I also found on this site reference to an American version for which the authors have teamed up with J. Kellum and Scott Gunn. The chapter list looks remarkably similar to the second edition of the ‘UK version’—however, for a slightly increased sum over the paper copy there is a version for the PDA available. There does not appear to be a PDA version of the UK 3rd Edition. The Handbooks are designed to give immediate access to the detailed clinical information needed on the wards, for reference and also for revision. The Critical Care Handbook certainly fulfils these goals. In the preface to the first edition, the authors indicate that the book is aimed at the consultant, junior doctor, nurse, or other paramedical staff as a reference book, aide memoire, and a pocket book providing help in dealing with most of the problems encountered on intensive care. I can only concur. Every ICU should have at least one copy. I think all junior doctors who work on ICU will benefit from owning a copy. It would certainly be a useful source of facts for exam revision. You could not, however, read it easily from cover to cover. The contents would also form a suitable background to a series of tutorials on topics of relevance to the care of the critically ill. So if you have worn out your second edition or do not own this book and work on ICU then I think you should buy the third edition. But for carrying around the ward and consulting it when problems arise—I still would rather have the PDA version thanks.
I. Barker Sheffield, UK E-mail: [email protected] doi:10.1093/bja/aep327
Cancer Pain (Clinical Pain Management), 2nd Edn. N. Sykes, M. I. Bennett and C.-S. Yuan (editors). Published by Hodder Arnold, London, UK. Pp. 443; indexed; illustrated. Price £99.00. ISBN 978-0-340-94007-5.
This book is one of four in the second edition of the series ‘Clinical Pain Management’. The other volumes cover different aspects of pain management—acute,
chronic, and practical procedures—to provide a comprehensive overview of most of the important areas of pain management. This series overall is an excellent addition to pain literature and this book—Cancer Pain—is no exception. Despite multiple, international authors, the editors have managed to present a consistent style throughout, which significantly adds to the readability of the book. The book has 30 chapters divided into four sections. The first section covers general areas, from the basic neurobiology of cancer pain to epidemiology and ethics. The assessment of cancer pain is comprehensive and psychological evaluation is also considered. The role of multidisciplinary teams in managing cancer pain is considered, including service design issues that may impact on delivery of care. The second section looks in some detail at pharmacological therapies for cancer pain. This is a very useful section for the practicing clinician with the chapters on opioids being particularly interesting. The third section looks at a wide range of non-drug therapies for cancer pain, including neurodestructive techniques and stimulation therapies, including TENS and spinal cord stimulation (SCS). A chapter on the use of non-destructive spinal analgesia would have been useful, particular as intrathecal drug delivery is used much more commonly than SCS in cancer pain management. Other areas that are also usefully discussed include complementary therapies, psychological interventions, and control of other symptoms that often co-exist with cancer pain. The final section looks at cancer pain management in special situations, including paediatrics, the elderly, managing the terminal phase, and, at the other end of the spectrum, cancer survivors suffering from ongoing pain. The challenging area of managing pain in patients with cancer and substance abuse problems is also addressed. Pain management in the community is a helpful chapter for specialists, who may be more used to managing pain in the hospital setting. The chapter format, where each chapter has a contents list and bulleted key learning points, is clear. Chapters are well referenced, and a particularly useful feature is the highlighting of important references within the reference list. Another important feature of this book is the grading of published evidence, using the Bandolier system, which aids busy clinicians in critically evaluating the mass of literature when deciding on best practice. Overall, this volume is not only a very accessible, high-quality reference book, but also a valuable practical aid to clinicians in the day-to-day management of cancer pain. This book should be an excellent resource for both trainees and consultants managing cancer pain. This second edition certainly deserves a place in the library and is likely to be regularly used, both for its
906
Downloaded from http://bja.oxfordjournals.org/ at NERL on April 13, 2015
heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or post-partum haemorrhage. A short history is given followed by the usual investigations. The format of the book makes the ECGs and X-rays really quite small, and one wonders whether a CD could be included in the second edition. Each case is followed by questions (with answers) on salient features, investigations, optimization, and anaesthetic management with not a little exploration of the pathophysiology of the patient’s presenting condition. Each long case is followed by three very typical short cases, to choose at random: Jehovah’s Witness, aspiration under general anaesthesia, and emergency Caesarean section. Again typical oral questions are presented accompanied by typical (correct) answers. After the three short cases come four ‘clinical science’ questions covering clinical applications of anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and clinical measurement/physics. Thus, the layout of each question set is the same as the current pattern of the final FRCA examination orals. Only the commissionaire in uniform and glass of dubious white wine at the end of the day are missing. Furthermore, the questions are typical of the examination, the answers typical of the candidates who pass. Is this a good textbook? I think that depends on how the candidate prepares for the exam. It certainly sets the scene and accurately reflects the standard, but in my opinion the best way to refine the technique of oral examination performance is to have practice examinations. Having said that, it is well known that candidates find it difficult to have practice exams in the science subjects because a lot of good clinicians do not feel very confident examining these subjects, so perhaps the book will help teachers to prepare mock orals. It is not a theory textbook, it is not comprehensive, and it is no substitute for wide reading and wide, informed discussion. It is typical of the FRCA exam; I think it will be useful to teachers and very useful to many candidates in the last month or two leading up to the day out at Red Lion Square. The best advert for the book will be when a colleague says ‘it helped me’. One of my successful trainees has already sold on her copy.
Book reviews
direct clinical relevance and also for its scientific evaluation of the subject area. L. A. Colvin Edinburgh, UK E-mail: [email protected] doi:10.1093/bja/aep328
Oxford Handbook of Critical Care, 3rd Edn. M. Singer and A. R. Webb (editors). Published by Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Pp. 669; indexed: illustrated. Price £27.95. ISBN 978-0-19-923533-9.
907
N. R. Webster Aberdeen, UK E-mail: [email protected] doi:10.1093/bja/aep329
Downloaded from http://bja.oxfordjournals.org/ at NERL on April 13, 2015
This is the third edition of the Oxford Handbook of Critical Care. I think, probably by coincidence, I reviewed the second edition of this book for this Journal and commented that I was not sure what I was going to be able to say about the book as the previous edition had been so well reviewed and also well received by the practitioners of critical care medicine. Therefore, my task now is doubly difficult. This edition features a range of new topics, including outreach support, admission criteria, infection control, tissue perfusion monitoring, echocardiography, and survivor follow-up. However, all chapters have been revised to reflect advances in critical care. The chapters keep the same format as the previous edition and the outside of the book looks almost identical to the second edition. There are now 38 chapters covering every aspect of critical care medicine from how to set up an ICU ventilator to communication with relatives. It is all there and as it says on the cover it is indeed detailed and authoritative. The page total has also increased slightly to 669 and as before it has a detailed index and also a listing of chapter headings both at the front of the book and on the back cover. There are still quite a few blank pages which I learnt from reviewing the previous edition are there to permit notes to be written and for the insertion of ‘local information’. This edition has retained the highlighted ‘key trials’ and the ‘see also’ sections. These two aspects allow those interested to expand on the facts obtained from the particular chapter and make the book more useful
than its small size would suggest. The references and key trials all appear to have been fully updated. As in the previous edition, it is a small, plastic covered book which although quite thick would certainly fit in a pocket. There is a web address for the Oxford Handbook series on the back cover and when this is consulted it suggested that there were some titles available for use on PDAs. In my opinion, this would be a perfect medium for this type of book. I also found on this site reference to an American version for which the authors have teamed up with J. Kellum and Scott Gunn. The chapter list looks remarkably similar to the second edition of the ‘UK version’—however, for a slightly increased sum over the paper copy there is a version for the PDA available. There does not appear to be a PDA version of the UK 3rd Edition. The Handbooks are designed to give immediate access to the detailed clinical information needed on the wards, for reference and also for revision. The Critical Care Handbook certainly fulfils these goals. In the preface to the first edition, the authors indicate that the book is aimed at the consultant, junior doctor, nurse, or other paramedical staff as a reference book, aide memoire, and a pocket book providing help in dealing with most of the problems encountered on intensive care. I can only concur. Every ICU should have at least one copy. I think all junior doctors who work on ICU will benefit from owning a copy. It would certainly be a useful source of facts for exam revision. You could not, however, read it easily from cover to cover. The contents would also form a suitable background to a series of tutorials on topics of relevance to the care of the critically ill. So if you have worn out your second edition or do not own this book and work on ICU then I think you should buy the third edition. But for carrying around the ward and consulting it when problems arise—I still would rather have the PDA version thanks.