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Manual of Pediatric Anesthesia (2nd Edn). By Steward David J. Published by Churchill Livingstone. Pp. 377; indexed. Price £24.00.
Br. J. Anaesth. (1985), 57, 1047
BOOK REVIEWS
Year Book of Anaesthesia (1984). Edited by Ronald D. Miller. Published by Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford. Pp. 391; indexed; illustrated. Price £38.00.
A prolific author and editor, David Steward was, for more than 10 years, Anaesthetist-in-Chief to the Hospital for Sick Children (HSC) Toronto ("the largest children's hospital in North America") where 14000 operations are performed
This is the latest edition of a well established series. There is now such a vast range of information published that it is virtually impossible for practising anaesthetists to be familiar with more than a fraction of original work. This volume attempts to present a representative selection of recent literature from 69 different journals. The editor, R. D. Miller, was assisted in the task by R. R. Kirby, G. W. Ostheimer, L. J. Saidman and R. K. Stocking. There are 13 chapters, covering most aspects of anaesthetic practice. Three of these, The Informed Anaesthetist, Anaesthetic Risks and Epidural Narcotics are small (6, 4 and 4 pages, respectively) and could have been incorporated in the other chapters. The selected articles are presented in abstract form and each is followed by comments from one of the editorial staff. These are an excellent feature: some put the article in context with other work in the same field, some indicate which papers deserve to be read in full, mention a special merit or occasionally point out flaws. Thus the reader gains an appreciation of the content not possible with abstracts in isolation. The main theme of the comments was the clinical implication of the work published; even the more scientific papers were judged on this basis. Some comments, notably those of Ostheimer, amounted to mini-reviews of the subject. A good example was his clear chronological review of the use of extradural narcotics. There was a reasonable balance between the scientific and clinical in the articles presented but, not surprisingly, they reflected mainly North American practice. It is not appropriate to mention specific articles of personal interest. The value of the Year Book is to enable the reader to remain aware of the ever-expanding volume of knowledge across the broad front of anaesthetic practice. The price of £38.00 may appear expensive, but it is less than the average subscription to a single journal. It merits inclusion in all departmental libraries.
annually
His Manual of Pediatric Anesthesia first appeared in 1979. The second edition, to which all members of HSC anaesthetic staff have contributed, brings the first up-to-date and extends it by some 50 pages. It remains a taut, relatively inexpensive volume in a clear uniform format, with the same provision as its forerunner: (1) anatomy and physiology considerations, (2) principles of paediatric anaesthesia management, and (3) descriptions of techniques used at HSC. The first two provisions are concisely and clearly achieved. Several other recent texts have, however, covered these fields. What makes this volume outstanding is the authoritative and straightforward outline advice given regarding a very wide range of clinical circumstances. Many of the areas covered will be of direct interest only to anaesthetists in sub-specialty practice, but everyday problems (for example strabismus, circumcision, hernia) are accorded equally thorough attention, and all who regularly anaesthetize children will wish to own a copy. The book is full of tips and checklists, useful for Hiniml practice and for teaching. Few will agree with every uncompromising instruction, but the unashamed dogmatism will certainly provoke the reader to think. Present Pjniarfiari practice evidently contrasts with British practice in some particulars. The book scarcely mentions ennurane (do not use it in phenylketonuric patients), but isoflurane is recommended in a wide range of situations. Methoxyflurane is often recommended, but atracurium and vecuronium receive no mention. S.I. units are not used, even in parentheses. There are also some errors—mostly self-explanatory, some confusing (calcium gluconate 10 % solution is recommended in dosages of 2 fi\, 10 mg/kg and 10 mEq/kg on different pages). Nevertheless, the book might be worth its cost for the table of rarer disorders alone, backed with the 118 references to these and their anaesthetic management. Dull reading, but invaluable when that rare syndrome presents for surgery. The book is highly recommended, even to those who already possess a first edition. WUUam R. Ham
James E. Caldwell
Downloaded from http://bja.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Iowa Libraries/Serials Acquisitions on June 27, 2015
Manual of Pediatric Anesthesia (2nd Edn). By David J. Steward. Published by Churchill Livingstone. Pp. 377; indexed. Price £24.00.
BOOK REVIEWS
Year Book of Anaesthesia (1984). Edited by Ronald D. Miller. Published by Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford. Pp. 391; indexed; illustrated. Price £38.00.
A prolific author and editor, David Steward was, for more than 10 years, Anaesthetist-in-Chief to the Hospital for Sick Children (HSC) Toronto ("the largest children's hospital in North America") where 14000 operations are performed
This is the latest edition of a well established series. There is now such a vast range of information published that it is virtually impossible for practising anaesthetists to be familiar with more than a fraction of original work. This volume attempts to present a representative selection of recent literature from 69 different journals. The editor, R. D. Miller, was assisted in the task by R. R. Kirby, G. W. Ostheimer, L. J. Saidman and R. K. Stocking. There are 13 chapters, covering most aspects of anaesthetic practice. Three of these, The Informed Anaesthetist, Anaesthetic Risks and Epidural Narcotics are small (6, 4 and 4 pages, respectively) and could have been incorporated in the other chapters. The selected articles are presented in abstract form and each is followed by comments from one of the editorial staff. These are an excellent feature: some put the article in context with other work in the same field, some indicate which papers deserve to be read in full, mention a special merit or occasionally point out flaws. Thus the reader gains an appreciation of the content not possible with abstracts in isolation. The main theme of the comments was the clinical implication of the work published; even the more scientific papers were judged on this basis. Some comments, notably those of Ostheimer, amounted to mini-reviews of the subject. A good example was his clear chronological review of the use of extradural narcotics. There was a reasonable balance between the scientific and clinical in the articles presented but, not surprisingly, they reflected mainly North American practice. It is not appropriate to mention specific articles of personal interest. The value of the Year Book is to enable the reader to remain aware of the ever-expanding volume of knowledge across the broad front of anaesthetic practice. The price of £38.00 may appear expensive, but it is less than the average subscription to a single journal. It merits inclusion in all departmental libraries.
annually
His Manual of Pediatric Anesthesia first appeared in 1979. The second edition, to which all members of HSC anaesthetic staff have contributed, brings the first up-to-date and extends it by some 50 pages. It remains a taut, relatively inexpensive volume in a clear uniform format, with the same provision as its forerunner: (1) anatomy and physiology considerations, (2) principles of paediatric anaesthesia management, and (3) descriptions of techniques used at HSC. The first two provisions are concisely and clearly achieved. Several other recent texts have, however, covered these fields. What makes this volume outstanding is the authoritative and straightforward outline advice given regarding a very wide range of clinical circumstances. Many of the areas covered will be of direct interest only to anaesthetists in sub-specialty practice, but everyday problems (for example strabismus, circumcision, hernia) are accorded equally thorough attention, and all who regularly anaesthetize children will wish to own a copy. The book is full of tips and checklists, useful for Hiniml practice and for teaching. Few will agree with every uncompromising instruction, but the unashamed dogmatism will certainly provoke the reader to think. Present Pjniarfiari practice evidently contrasts with British practice in some particulars. The book scarcely mentions ennurane (do not use it in phenylketonuric patients), but isoflurane is recommended in a wide range of situations. Methoxyflurane is often recommended, but atracurium and vecuronium receive no mention. S.I. units are not used, even in parentheses. There are also some errors—mostly self-explanatory, some confusing (calcium gluconate 10 % solution is recommended in dosages of 2 fi\, 10 mg/kg and 10 mEq/kg on different pages). Nevertheless, the book might be worth its cost for the table of rarer disorders alone, backed with the 118 references to these and their anaesthetic management. Dull reading, but invaluable when that rare syndrome presents for surgery. The book is highly recommended, even to those who already possess a first edition. WUUam R. Ham
James E. Caldwell
Downloaded from http://bja.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Iowa Libraries/Serials Acquisitions on June 27, 2015
Manual of Pediatric Anesthesia (2nd Edn). By David J. Steward. Published by Churchill Livingstone. Pp. 377; indexed. Price £24.00.