Lacrimal Surgery. Contemporary Issues in Ophthalmology, vol. 5.

Lacrimal Surgery. Contemporary Issues in Ophthalmology, vol. 5.

Vol. 107, No. 1 ever, the book relies exclusively on drawings to demonstrate surgical procedures rather than on intraoperative photographs. At times,...

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Vol. 107, No. 1

ever, the book relies exclusively on drawings to demonstrate surgical procedures rather than on intraoperative photographs. At times, the illustrations seem to present imprecisely the surgical anatomy, and the reader may find it difficult to duplicate the described surgical procedures for this reason. The book is billed as the updated sequel to the 1976 edition of "Practical Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery" by Drs. Reeh, Beyer, and Shannon. The ideas presented in this edition generally reflect the progress that has been made in this field over the past decade. However, there are a number of areas in which more recent material has not been included. For example, many now question the concept of separate reflex and basic tear secretions, or Jones and Wobigs' theory of lacrimal pump function, both of which have been seemingly contradicted by recent evidence. Most plastic surgeons trained in the past decade would not agree with Dr. Kohn's assessment of silk as the "ideal skin suture," and would certainly be surprised at Drs. Kohn and Orcutt's statement that an incision placed directly over the infraorbital rim provides "an excellent approach for repair of blowout fractures." The text reflects a tremendous effort, which has resulted in complete coverage of the field of ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery. It nicely presents one man's view of this field, and will be of interest to many ophthalmologists.

Lacrimal Surgery. Contemporary Issues in Ophthalmology, vol. 5. Edited by John V. Linberg. New York, Churchill Livingstone Inc., 1988.348 pages, index, illustrated. $79

Reviewed by JOHN L. WOBIG Portland, Oregon

Twenty-four authors have organized an excellent book on the diagnosis and treatment of lacrimal disorders. Nine chapters deal with surgical procedures for the repair of the lacrimal system. The remaining chapters deal with anatomy, pathology, and radiography of the lacrimal system. The chapter on diagnostic tests and imaging techniques, by Jonathan

Book Reviews

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Dutton, is an excellent summary of all available diagnostic tests: ultrasonography, radionuclide dacryoscintigraphy, computed tomography, and chemiluminescence are nicely summarized for the clinician. The chapter on the pathology of nasolacrimal duct obstructions, by Steven A. McCormick and John V. Linberg, is original and worthwhile. The chapter on the surgical management of lacrimal sac tumors, by Joseph c. Flanagan and Christine Zolli, is valuable. It is a subject that has been neglected in other lacrimal books. This well-organized book is enhanced by Dr. Linberg's comments on controversies in the lacrimal field. This book will be of value to residents in ophthalmology and to practicing ophthalmologists with an interest in lacrimal surgery.

Amaurosis Fugax. Edited by Eugene F. Bernstein. New York, Springer-Verlag New York, Inc., 1988. 310 pages, index, illustrated. $75

Reviewed by JONATHAN D. TROBE Ann Arbor, Michigan

This book is a collection of 21 essays contributed by a group of experts who assembled at the Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation in La Jolla, California, in March 1987. The editor, Eugene F. Bernstein, a vascular surgeon at Scripps, organized this gathering of prominent representatives from the clinical neurosciences, ophthalmology, hematology, and vascular surgery under one roof and, now, under one book cover. The result earns a mixed review. Nowhere else can one find an authoritative essay on the vascular anatomy of the eye (Hayreh) together with a solid discussion of antithrombotic agents (Harker) and recent reviews of endarterectomy for amaurosis by neurosurgeons (Fode and Sundt) and vascular surgeons (Connelly, Okuhn, and Ehrenfeld) in a single source. The bibliography alone is worth the price of the book. Another laudable feature is the "Consensus Statement" at the end of the book. It is an eloquent synopsis of "where we are today" in the diagnosis and treatment of amaurosis fugax. There are, however, several criticisms to be