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Evidence based gastroenterology and hepatology
DIGEST LIVER INS 2000;651
Book reviews Ambulatory ano-rectal surgery H.R. Bailey, M.J. Snyder Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg, 110. ISBN 0-387-98603-O
ABCof colorectal diseases
Germany, 2000,223
pages,
US$
Format: Hardcover book. Purpose: The book aims to provide a comprehensive text addressing wide-range topics related to the ambulatory practice of ano-rectal surgery. Content: The book ideally comprises three sections dealing with different topics and problems, frequently encountered in care organization and treatment of ano-rectal diseases: types of facilities, organization; anaesthesia, patient selection and preparation criteria; surgical procedures. The first section provides information regarding “what you need to know” approaching ano-rectal surgery in terms of organization according to the type of facilities; freestanding, hospital and physician owned ambulatory. Choice and techniques of anaesthesia are outlined in the first part of the next section together with patient selection criteria and type of preoperative preparation. The section on surgical-related topics starts with the indications of patient positioning in the o.r. followed by a detailed description of the common ano-rectal disease and the different surgical options. All the most common surgical procedures are described focusing also on complications, short- and long-term outcome. Commentary: The book offers a comprehensive vision of all topics related to the out-patient practice of ano-rectal disease which in the USA has become a standard routine over the last few years. Both the organizing and technical aspects related to the treatment of ano-rectal disease are thoroughly examined. Final note: A useful book that provides practical information for those surgeons involved in ambulatory practice of uncomplicated ano-rectal diseases. Reviewer: M. Cristaldi (Milan, Italy). Side-effects of drugs - Annual 22 J.K. Aronson Elsevier, Amsterdam, ISBN O-444-50092.8
NL,
1999,
602
pages,
Euro
181.
Format: Hardcover book. Purpose: This is a well-know “world-wide yearly survey of new data and trends” concerning the side-effects of drugs, designed to provide a critical and up-to-date account of new information on adverse drug reactions and interactions, from the clinician’s point of view. Content: A total of 49 chapters dealing with side-effects of all possible medications and treatments and 30 reviews dealing specifically with particularly new, or highly debated, or controversial issues. Commentary: It is difficult to give an overall impression due to the vastness of the contents and the heterogeneity of such a multi-author volume. Some of the chapters are particularly well written, comprehensive and updated (e.g., chapter on errors in prescribing and giving medicines; or the chapter on NSAIDs). Others are not sufftciently updated, or even poor (e.g., the chapter on gastrointestinal drugs). Highlights: It allows the temporal gap to be tilled due to the long interval between two editions of the standard encyclopaedic work in this field, “Meyler’s side effects of drugs”. limitations: Since it is published yearly, it will, by definition, have a very short life-span. Furthermore, the period covered ranees from Januarv 1997 to March 1998 and. therefore. orobablyvdoes not justify purchase of this book’ now (September 2000). May be it is worth waiting for the next edition. Final note: Not really a book for every gastroenterologist! Reviewer: F. Pace (Milan, Italy).
D.J. Jones BMJ Books, London, UK, 1999, 109 pages, & 18.95. ISBN O7279-l 105.8 Format: Soft-cover book. Purpose: The aim of this pleasant book is to provide essential knowledge in the field of colorectal diseases to allow general practitioners and clinicians without a specialist training in coloproctology to make a diagnosis, initiate appropriate treatment and select specific patients for more detailed referral. Content: This is the second edition (the first appeared in 1995) of a successful book which initially included articles originally published in the British Medical Journal. The authors - surgeons and physicians mainly from the Manchester school (UK) - have revised and updated all chapters which cover the most frequently encountered diseases of the large bowel. Commentary: This book is very well written and reading is facilitated by several clear and well reproduced figures (mostly in colour). The description is immediate and easy to understand since the authors have covered all that is considered essential with very little space reserved for controversial or uncertain problems. Final note: Certainly a very useful book and well recommended for general practitioners, junior doctors, young gastroenterologists and - why not-busy old specialists with limited time for updating. Reviewer: G. Bianchi Porro (Milan, Italy).
Evidence based gastroenterology and hepatology J. McDonald, A. Burroughs, B. Feagan BMJ Books, London, UK, 1999, 557 pages, & 85.00. ISBN O7297-1182.1 Format: Hardcover book. Purpose: Unlike traditional textbooks which underline the basic science of pathology, biochemistry and physiology, this important volume emphasizes the approaches of evidence based medicine to gastroenterology and hepatology. Content: The book - utilizing clinical epidemiology, “the basic science of clinical medicine” - presents the strongest and most up-to-date evidence for interventions for the major diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and liver. The authors (mostly intemationally known authorities in their specific fields) easily, but convincingly, guide to reader in making better informed decisions concerning which treatments to offer their patients. The most important diseases encountered daily are approached by a team of experts, a few are mentioned here: gastro-oesophaaeal reflux disease and ulcer disease and Helico6acter pyloh in?ection, both examined by R. Hunt and N. Chiba; functional dyspepsia (S.V. Zanten); irritable bowel syndrome (D.A. Drossman); hepatitis C (P. Marcellin), hepatitis B (A. Craxi); primarv sclerosing cholangitis (R.W. Chapman); hepatic encephalopathy (P. Ferenci) and henatocellular carcinoma (M. Colombo). Commentary: In a c&tam sense, the book inaugurates a new way of practising medicine. Great attention is paid to weighing up the strength of evidence which supports various treatment recommendations and to placing emphasis on the analysis of randomised trials and systematic reviews of these trials. A very useful aid in following the path indicated by the authors is the notation in the margin of the text which indicates the strength of the evidence. Final note: Although rather expensive for the everyday gastroenterologist, this book is important and certainly worthwhile purchasing, especially for those engaged in academic institution both because it is full of expressions of wise and deep significance but also, and maybe primarily, because it indicates the most modem way to practice good gastroenterology and hepatology. Reviewer: G. Bianchi Porro (Milan, Italy).
651
Book reviews Ambulatory ano-rectal surgery H.R. Bailey, M.J. Snyder Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg, 110. ISBN 0-387-98603-O
ABCof colorectal diseases
Germany, 2000,223
pages,
US$
Format: Hardcover book. Purpose: The book aims to provide a comprehensive text addressing wide-range topics related to the ambulatory practice of ano-rectal surgery. Content: The book ideally comprises three sections dealing with different topics and problems, frequently encountered in care organization and treatment of ano-rectal diseases: types of facilities, organization; anaesthesia, patient selection and preparation criteria; surgical procedures. The first section provides information regarding “what you need to know” approaching ano-rectal surgery in terms of organization according to the type of facilities; freestanding, hospital and physician owned ambulatory. Choice and techniques of anaesthesia are outlined in the first part of the next section together with patient selection criteria and type of preoperative preparation. The section on surgical-related topics starts with the indications of patient positioning in the o.r. followed by a detailed description of the common ano-rectal disease and the different surgical options. All the most common surgical procedures are described focusing also on complications, short- and long-term outcome. Commentary: The book offers a comprehensive vision of all topics related to the out-patient practice of ano-rectal disease which in the USA has become a standard routine over the last few years. Both the organizing and technical aspects related to the treatment of ano-rectal disease are thoroughly examined. Final note: A useful book that provides practical information for those surgeons involved in ambulatory practice of uncomplicated ano-rectal diseases. Reviewer: M. Cristaldi (Milan, Italy). Side-effects of drugs - Annual 22 J.K. Aronson Elsevier, Amsterdam, ISBN O-444-50092.8
NL,
1999,
602
pages,
Euro
181.
Format: Hardcover book. Purpose: This is a well-know “world-wide yearly survey of new data and trends” concerning the side-effects of drugs, designed to provide a critical and up-to-date account of new information on adverse drug reactions and interactions, from the clinician’s point of view. Content: A total of 49 chapters dealing with side-effects of all possible medications and treatments and 30 reviews dealing specifically with particularly new, or highly debated, or controversial issues. Commentary: It is difficult to give an overall impression due to the vastness of the contents and the heterogeneity of such a multi-author volume. Some of the chapters are particularly well written, comprehensive and updated (e.g., chapter on errors in prescribing and giving medicines; or the chapter on NSAIDs). Others are not sufftciently updated, or even poor (e.g., the chapter on gastrointestinal drugs). Highlights: It allows the temporal gap to be tilled due to the long interval between two editions of the standard encyclopaedic work in this field, “Meyler’s side effects of drugs”. limitations: Since it is published yearly, it will, by definition, have a very short life-span. Furthermore, the period covered ranees from Januarv 1997 to March 1998 and. therefore. orobablyvdoes not justify purchase of this book’ now (September 2000). May be it is worth waiting for the next edition. Final note: Not really a book for every gastroenterologist! Reviewer: F. Pace (Milan, Italy).
D.J. Jones BMJ Books, London, UK, 1999, 109 pages, & 18.95. ISBN O7279-l 105.8 Format: Soft-cover book. Purpose: The aim of this pleasant book is to provide essential knowledge in the field of colorectal diseases to allow general practitioners and clinicians without a specialist training in coloproctology to make a diagnosis, initiate appropriate treatment and select specific patients for more detailed referral. Content: This is the second edition (the first appeared in 1995) of a successful book which initially included articles originally published in the British Medical Journal. The authors - surgeons and physicians mainly from the Manchester school (UK) - have revised and updated all chapters which cover the most frequently encountered diseases of the large bowel. Commentary: This book is very well written and reading is facilitated by several clear and well reproduced figures (mostly in colour). The description is immediate and easy to understand since the authors have covered all that is considered essential with very little space reserved for controversial or uncertain problems. Final note: Certainly a very useful book and well recommended for general practitioners, junior doctors, young gastroenterologists and - why not-busy old specialists with limited time for updating. Reviewer: G. Bianchi Porro (Milan, Italy).
Evidence based gastroenterology and hepatology J. McDonald, A. Burroughs, B. Feagan BMJ Books, London, UK, 1999, 557 pages, & 85.00. ISBN O7297-1182.1 Format: Hardcover book. Purpose: Unlike traditional textbooks which underline the basic science of pathology, biochemistry and physiology, this important volume emphasizes the approaches of evidence based medicine to gastroenterology and hepatology. Content: The book - utilizing clinical epidemiology, “the basic science of clinical medicine” - presents the strongest and most up-to-date evidence for interventions for the major diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and liver. The authors (mostly intemationally known authorities in their specific fields) easily, but convincingly, guide to reader in making better informed decisions concerning which treatments to offer their patients. The most important diseases encountered daily are approached by a team of experts, a few are mentioned here: gastro-oesophaaeal reflux disease and ulcer disease and Helico6acter pyloh in?ection, both examined by R. Hunt and N. Chiba; functional dyspepsia (S.V. Zanten); irritable bowel syndrome (D.A. Drossman); hepatitis C (P. Marcellin), hepatitis B (A. Craxi); primarv sclerosing cholangitis (R.W. Chapman); hepatic encephalopathy (P. Ferenci) and henatocellular carcinoma (M. Colombo). Commentary: In a c&tam sense, the book inaugurates a new way of practising medicine. Great attention is paid to weighing up the strength of evidence which supports various treatment recommendations and to placing emphasis on the analysis of randomised trials and systematic reviews of these trials. A very useful aid in following the path indicated by the authors is the notation in the margin of the text which indicates the strength of the evidence. Final note: Although rather expensive for the everyday gastroenterologist, this book is important and certainly worthwhile purchasing, especially for those engaged in academic institution both because it is full of expressions of wise and deep significance but also, and maybe primarily, because it indicates the most modem way to practice good gastroenterology and hepatology. Reviewer: G. Bianchi Porro (Milan, Italy).
651