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Lumbar disc disease, 2nd edition
84
Surg Neurol 1994;41:84
Book Reviews Lumbar Disc Disease, 2nd Edition. Edited by Russell W. Hardy, Jr. 385 pages. $125.00. N e w York, N Y : Raven Press, 1993. I S B N 0-88167-951-8. For the resident or neurosurgeon in the early part of training, Lumbar Disc Disease offers an excellent presentation on the clinical aspects of this perplexing disease. It is extremely readable and comprehensible; the illustrations are clear and the references have been well selected. Even though it is multiauthored, the quality of the writing in each chapter is excellent. It will even be of help to the busy practitioner with extensive experience in treating patients with lumbar disc disease. With the expanding use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans the chapter on imaging is clear and presents a long-needed summary of the complexities of this area. The discussions on the indications for fusion, surgical treatment of the failed back, and spondylolisthesis are topics that are always worthwhile reading when reviewed by experts. This second edition has added chapters on osteomyelitis, medical and legal implications, and functional restoration in patients with back problems. As a monograph, it is well worth the price. For the novice neurosurgeon it is a good introduction to the complexities of the illness. To the accomplished and seasoned spine surgeon, the chapters will be thought-provoking and will help crystallize a better understanding of difficult areas. STEWART B. DUNSKER, M.D. Cincinnati, Ohio
Neurological and Neurosurgical Intensive Care. Third Edition. Edited by Allan H. R o p p e r , M.D. 505 pages. $105. R a v e n Press, N e w Y o r k , 1993. I S B N 0 - 8 8 1 6 7 - 9 8 1 X. The third edition of Neurological and Neurosurgical Intensive Care is intended to clarify ideas and studies introduced in the earlier editions in the rapidly evolving field of neurological critical care. The volume is divided into two parts. Part I deals with the general principles of neurologic intensive care beginning with a brief general introduction followed by several chapters on the physiology, clinical presentation, monitoring, and treatment of intracranial hypertension. Several chapters discuss the medical complications of patients in the neurosurgi-
© 1994 by Elsevier ScienceInc.
cal/neurological ICU including respiratory management, cardiac complications, infectious complications, and metabolic derangements. Each chapter includes problems that are unique to this patient population such as endotracheal intubation in patients with cervical spine injuries, neurogenic pulmonary edema, ischemic EKG changes in the setting of an acute neurologic event, and shunt and ventricular catheter infections. Part II covers specific neurologic and/or neurosurgical disease entities. It begins with a discussion of the use of electrophysiologic monitoring with emphasis on the clinical applications of EEG and evoked potential monitoring. A separate chapter addresses perioperative neurosurgical care including fever, infection, blood pressure control, DVT/PE prophylaxis, perioperative ICP monitoring, and stress ulcer prophylaxis. Neurologic complications of medical ICU patients are also included such as septic encephalopathy, liver failure and CNS dysfunction, seizures, and critical illness polyneuropathy. The chapter on severe head injury reviews the types of injury and discusses intracranial hypertension as it pertains to this group of patients. Individual chapters address the diagnosis and management principles of occlusive cerebrovascular disease, therapy of acute ischemic stroke, nontraumatic brain hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, status epilepticus, coma post cardiac arrest, myasthenia gravis, Guillain-Barr~ Syndrome, encephalitis, traumatic spinal cord injury, diagnosis of death by brain criteria, legal aspects of decision-making, and ethical aspects of withdrawing treatment from patients in the neurologic ICU. All the chapters give an extensive review of the literature, and where there is no well established approach, each author relies heavily on his own clinical experiences. Practical, and at times detailed, guidelines for patient care are provided. These include an algorithm delineating the management and resuscitation of severely head-injured patients, a loading and maintenance protocol for high dose barbiturate therapy, and specific drug therapy of myasthenia gravis. The only real criticism is that the general medical complications and therapies pertaining to all neurologically devastated patients are reiterated several times. Also there are many typographical errors throughout the text that--while not interfering with the interpretation of the text--are an annoyance. Overall, this is an excellent text that extensively covers the problems encountered in the care of the critically ill neurologic/neurosurgical patient. It is a current reference for all individuals involved in the care of critically ill. JEAN T. SANTAMAURO, M.D. D A V I D L. B O W T O N , M.D. Winston-Salem, North Carolina
0090-3019/94/$7.00
Surg Neurol 1994;41:84
Book Reviews Lumbar Disc Disease, 2nd Edition. Edited by Russell W. Hardy, Jr. 385 pages. $125.00. N e w York, N Y : Raven Press, 1993. I S B N 0-88167-951-8. For the resident or neurosurgeon in the early part of training, Lumbar Disc Disease offers an excellent presentation on the clinical aspects of this perplexing disease. It is extremely readable and comprehensible; the illustrations are clear and the references have been well selected. Even though it is multiauthored, the quality of the writing in each chapter is excellent. It will even be of help to the busy practitioner with extensive experience in treating patients with lumbar disc disease. With the expanding use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans the chapter on imaging is clear and presents a long-needed summary of the complexities of this area. The discussions on the indications for fusion, surgical treatment of the failed back, and spondylolisthesis are topics that are always worthwhile reading when reviewed by experts. This second edition has added chapters on osteomyelitis, medical and legal implications, and functional restoration in patients with back problems. As a monograph, it is well worth the price. For the novice neurosurgeon it is a good introduction to the complexities of the illness. To the accomplished and seasoned spine surgeon, the chapters will be thought-provoking and will help crystallize a better understanding of difficult areas. STEWART B. DUNSKER, M.D. Cincinnati, Ohio
Neurological and Neurosurgical Intensive Care. Third Edition. Edited by Allan H. R o p p e r , M.D. 505 pages. $105. R a v e n Press, N e w Y o r k , 1993. I S B N 0 - 8 8 1 6 7 - 9 8 1 X. The third edition of Neurological and Neurosurgical Intensive Care is intended to clarify ideas and studies introduced in the earlier editions in the rapidly evolving field of neurological critical care. The volume is divided into two parts. Part I deals with the general principles of neurologic intensive care beginning with a brief general introduction followed by several chapters on the physiology, clinical presentation, monitoring, and treatment of intracranial hypertension. Several chapters discuss the medical complications of patients in the neurosurgi-
© 1994 by Elsevier ScienceInc.
cal/neurological ICU including respiratory management, cardiac complications, infectious complications, and metabolic derangements. Each chapter includes problems that are unique to this patient population such as endotracheal intubation in patients with cervical spine injuries, neurogenic pulmonary edema, ischemic EKG changes in the setting of an acute neurologic event, and shunt and ventricular catheter infections. Part II covers specific neurologic and/or neurosurgical disease entities. It begins with a discussion of the use of electrophysiologic monitoring with emphasis on the clinical applications of EEG and evoked potential monitoring. A separate chapter addresses perioperative neurosurgical care including fever, infection, blood pressure control, DVT/PE prophylaxis, perioperative ICP monitoring, and stress ulcer prophylaxis. Neurologic complications of medical ICU patients are also included such as septic encephalopathy, liver failure and CNS dysfunction, seizures, and critical illness polyneuropathy. The chapter on severe head injury reviews the types of injury and discusses intracranial hypertension as it pertains to this group of patients. Individual chapters address the diagnosis and management principles of occlusive cerebrovascular disease, therapy of acute ischemic stroke, nontraumatic brain hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, status epilepticus, coma post cardiac arrest, myasthenia gravis, Guillain-Barr~ Syndrome, encephalitis, traumatic spinal cord injury, diagnosis of death by brain criteria, legal aspects of decision-making, and ethical aspects of withdrawing treatment from patients in the neurologic ICU. All the chapters give an extensive review of the literature, and where there is no well established approach, each author relies heavily on his own clinical experiences. Practical, and at times detailed, guidelines for patient care are provided. These include an algorithm delineating the management and resuscitation of severely head-injured patients, a loading and maintenance protocol for high dose barbiturate therapy, and specific drug therapy of myasthenia gravis. The only real criticism is that the general medical complications and therapies pertaining to all neurologically devastated patients are reiterated several times. Also there are many typographical errors throughout the text that--while not interfering with the interpretation of the text--are an annoyance. Overall, this is an excellent text that extensively covers the problems encountered in the care of the critically ill neurologic/neurosurgical patient. It is a current reference for all individuals involved in the care of critically ill. JEAN T. SANTAMAURO, M.D. D A V I D L. B O W T O N , M.D. Winston-Salem, North Carolina
0090-3019/94/$7.00