- Email: [email protected]
Critical care of the obstetrical patient
able predictors regarding later development for the premature or sick neonate. Because of the impact of neonatal hospitalization upon the parents, many of the later chapters are devoted to summarizing research on parental feelings of failure, fear of attachment, bonding, response to crying, and irritability. The authors hoped this information would be useful to a varied audience: "parents . . . . skilled pediatricians, psychologists, physical therapists.., and intensive care nurses." With such a mixed audience, parts of the book will be too elementary for health care professionals and parts too academic for the lay person. Therefore, although there may be something for everyone in this book, not every part is useful for everyone. Information outlining the NICU experience and causes of prematurity would be very interesting for parents. However, they may find the research analysis tedious and developmental information more meaningful in a text targeted specifically for them. I believe the graduate nurse or nurse clinician interested in replicating or initiating research or intervention strategies would find this book valuable.
After Baby Comes: A Handbook for New Parents. By Kris Leander. Seattle: Privately printed, 1983. Softcover booklet, 75 pages. $ 2 - 3 depending upon quantity ordered.
Reviewed by: Nancy Kraus, CNM, MSN, Private practice, New York City, NY. This booklet was commissioned by a consortium of perinatal units on the West Coast to distribute to their patients. The author teaches hospital postpartum classes herself, and the booklet reiterates the information taught in most hospital or childbirth preparation classes. The information is divided into four sections: Caring for Your Baby (appearance of newborn, physical care, feeding); Caring for Yourself (exercise, perineum, hormonal changes); Keeping Baby Healthy (car seats, babyproofing, wellchild care); and Cesarean Recovery (explanation of what happened, recovery tips, feelings). The booklet includes an adequate table of contents, index, parents r e c o m m e n d e d reading list, and "Questions to Ask Your Doctor" at the end of each chapter to guide women into individualizing the discussion. The booklet is illustrated with half-tone photographs, has a heavy construction-
Journal of Nurse-Midwifery
paper cover, and easy-to-read format. The booklet is available in bulk quantities and will be imprinted with the hospital, clinic, or physician's name on the inside front cover. The cost per unit ranges from $2 to 3 depending on quantity ordered. If your institution has the funds available, the booklet is a good value. It can be ordered from Kris Leander, 5608 34th Avenue NW, Seattle, WA 98107.
Critical Care of the Obstetrical Patient. Edited by Richard L. Berkowitz. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1983. 561 pages. $55.00, hardcover.
Reviewed by: Katherine W. O'Connell, RN, BSN, Perinatal Nurse Clinican and Gary D. Blake, MO, Associate Director of Perinatology, Sharp Memorial Hospital, San Diego, CA. Critical care medicine is one area influenced by the current explosion of scientific knowledge and technology. AIthough uncommon, life-threatening conditions can jeopardize a woman during her pregnancy and especially during the immediate postpartum period. This book presents, for the first time, a comprehensive reference of critical care medicine for the obstetric patient. Twenty-nine authors, representing both perinatologists and medical subspecialists, have completed a thorough review of selected topics not generally addressed in conventional obstetrical references. The book emphasizes practical, relevant, up-todate information clearly directed to practicing clinicians; both obstetricians and internists. Because of the limited amount of clinical experience most practitioners have in intensive care, this text proves to be a valuable resource when such situations arise. The twenty-one chapters discuss sophisticated techniques such as S w a n Ganz catheterization, ventilator therapy, fluid resuscitation, and pelvic artery erabolization. A balanced view of this technology is presented by including indications, contraindications, and complications of invasive therapy. Specific conditions affecting pregnant women are elaborated on by system in the remaining chapters. Although certain topics, such as asthma and diabetes, have been detailed in other references, the inclusion of interesting and unusual topics, ie, hyperalimentation, drug intoxication, and corrective cardiac surgery, expand the scope of this reference.
Vol. 29, No. 4, July/August 1984
The authors strive to present a consensus of current theory regarding optimal therapy. Substantiation is provided at the conclusion of each chapter. On occasion, when data are insufficient to draw firm conclusions, each author cites his own opinion. In one instance, the authors conducted a survey among the members of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons to assess current practices and results of corrective cardiac surgery during pregnancy. This book definitely has a place as a comprehensive reference for the current approach to uncommon obstetrical complications. Although directed toward medical and obstetrical specialists, it nonetheless provides a ready source for the nurse practitioner to achieve a better understanding of the current management of the critically ill obstetrical patient.
The Premature Baby Book: A Parents' Guide to Coping and Caring in the First Years. By Helen Harrison with Ann Kositsky. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1983. 273 pages. $15.95, softcover. Reviewed by: Susan K. Toth, RN, BSN, Neonatal Nurse Clinician, Sharp Memorial Hospital, San Diego, CA. This is a very comprehensive book with a stated purpose of giving " . . . other parents the information . . . . that could help (me) make sense of the emotional devastation of a premature birth." Because experiences are best related when experienced first-hand, this book relates the feelings and frustrations of author Helen Harrison who had a premature son. Her personal accounts and other parents' stoties at the end of each chapter add a valuable viewpoint for the reader. Although the purpose of the book is to provide information for parents, it also adds insight for nurses, doctors, social workers, and other health team members in the NICU. Considering this broad target population, some parts of the book are not appropriate for lay people. Flow diagrams of fetal versus mature circulation, detailed explanations of common premature disease processes, and indepth diagrams of respirators may not be well-understood topics for most parents. The book does, however, offer the information for the more "advanced" parent and the NICU health care team members. The subject matter of the chapters is diverse. Growth and development specific to a premature infant; ways to
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After Baby Comes: A Handbook for New Parents. By Kris Leander. Seattle: Privately printed, 1983. Softcover booklet, 75 pages. $ 2 - 3 depending upon quantity ordered.
Reviewed by: Nancy Kraus, CNM, MSN, Private practice, New York City, NY. This booklet was commissioned by a consortium of perinatal units on the West Coast to distribute to their patients. The author teaches hospital postpartum classes herself, and the booklet reiterates the information taught in most hospital or childbirth preparation classes. The information is divided into four sections: Caring for Your Baby (appearance of newborn, physical care, feeding); Caring for Yourself (exercise, perineum, hormonal changes); Keeping Baby Healthy (car seats, babyproofing, wellchild care); and Cesarean Recovery (explanation of what happened, recovery tips, feelings). The booklet includes an adequate table of contents, index, parents r e c o m m e n d e d reading list, and "Questions to Ask Your Doctor" at the end of each chapter to guide women into individualizing the discussion. The booklet is illustrated with half-tone photographs, has a heavy construction-
Journal of Nurse-Midwifery
paper cover, and easy-to-read format. The booklet is available in bulk quantities and will be imprinted with the hospital, clinic, or physician's name on the inside front cover. The cost per unit ranges from $2 to 3 depending on quantity ordered. If your institution has the funds available, the booklet is a good value. It can be ordered from Kris Leander, 5608 34th Avenue NW, Seattle, WA 98107.
Critical Care of the Obstetrical Patient. Edited by Richard L. Berkowitz. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1983. 561 pages. $55.00, hardcover.
Reviewed by: Katherine W. O'Connell, RN, BSN, Perinatal Nurse Clinican and Gary D. Blake, MO, Associate Director of Perinatology, Sharp Memorial Hospital, San Diego, CA. Critical care medicine is one area influenced by the current explosion of scientific knowledge and technology. AIthough uncommon, life-threatening conditions can jeopardize a woman during her pregnancy and especially during the immediate postpartum period. This book presents, for the first time, a comprehensive reference of critical care medicine for the obstetric patient. Twenty-nine authors, representing both perinatologists and medical subspecialists, have completed a thorough review of selected topics not generally addressed in conventional obstetrical references. The book emphasizes practical, relevant, up-todate information clearly directed to practicing clinicians; both obstetricians and internists. Because of the limited amount of clinical experience most practitioners have in intensive care, this text proves to be a valuable resource when such situations arise. The twenty-one chapters discuss sophisticated techniques such as S w a n Ganz catheterization, ventilator therapy, fluid resuscitation, and pelvic artery erabolization. A balanced view of this technology is presented by including indications, contraindications, and complications of invasive therapy. Specific conditions affecting pregnant women are elaborated on by system in the remaining chapters. Although certain topics, such as asthma and diabetes, have been detailed in other references, the inclusion of interesting and unusual topics, ie, hyperalimentation, drug intoxication, and corrective cardiac surgery, expand the scope of this reference.
Vol. 29, No. 4, July/August 1984
The authors strive to present a consensus of current theory regarding optimal therapy. Substantiation is provided at the conclusion of each chapter. On occasion, when data are insufficient to draw firm conclusions, each author cites his own opinion. In one instance, the authors conducted a survey among the members of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons to assess current practices and results of corrective cardiac surgery during pregnancy. This book definitely has a place as a comprehensive reference for the current approach to uncommon obstetrical complications. Although directed toward medical and obstetrical specialists, it nonetheless provides a ready source for the nurse practitioner to achieve a better understanding of the current management of the critically ill obstetrical patient.
The Premature Baby Book: A Parents' Guide to Coping and Caring in the First Years. By Helen Harrison with Ann Kositsky. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1983. 273 pages. $15.95, softcover. Reviewed by: Susan K. Toth, RN, BSN, Neonatal Nurse Clinician, Sharp Memorial Hospital, San Diego, CA. This is a very comprehensive book with a stated purpose of giving " . . . other parents the information . . . . that could help (me) make sense of the emotional devastation of a premature birth." Because experiences are best related when experienced first-hand, this book relates the feelings and frustrations of author Helen Harrison who had a premature son. Her personal accounts and other parents' stoties at the end of each chapter add a valuable viewpoint for the reader. Although the purpose of the book is to provide information for parents, it also adds insight for nurses, doctors, social workers, and other health team members in the NICU. Considering this broad target population, some parts of the book are not appropriate for lay people. Flow diagrams of fetal versus mature circulation, detailed explanations of common premature disease processes, and indepth diagrams of respirators may not be well-understood topics for most parents. The book does, however, offer the information for the more "advanced" parent and the NICU health care team members. The subject matter of the chapters is diverse. Growth and development specific to a premature infant; ways to
283