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Maternity services in the developing world. What the community needs
123
The Infertile Female J.R. Givens (ed.) Year Book Medical Publishers, (545 pp.) US $63.50
Inc., Chicago,
1979
This book is based on the proceedings of the Third Annual Symposium on Gynecologic Endocrinology held March 13- 15, 1978, at the University of Tennessee, Memphis, U.S.A. For this reason it does not give a systematic coverage of all female infertility problems, although most of them are dealt with. Much emphasis is placed on the endocrinological aspects of infertility. The book consits of five sections: (1) introduction (mainly devoted to the menstrual cycle and its disorders); (2) endocrine disorders; (3) ovulation and conception; (4) mtillerian system disorders; and (5) ‘idiopathic’ infertility. Each section is followed by a panel discussion. The book contains perhaps too much information for students and residents but is most suitable for post-graduate education. It can also serve very well as a guide and book of reference. As usual (unfortunately) minimal attention is paid to the psychosocial and psychosomatic aspects of infertility. This is especially obvious in the section on ‘idiopathic’ infertility which contains only chapters on: hyperprolactinemia, hysterosalpinography, hysteroscopy and laparoscopy. As such this section does not provide much information on ‘idiopathic’ infertility, a relatively frequent condition which often appears to be frustrating for both gynecologist and patient. In the whole book only 3 of the 545 pages are devoted to non-somatic aspects of infetility. A nice attraction is a thorough pre- and post-test examination, each including approximately 70 multiple choice questions. With the reservations mentioned above, this book can be recommended to the gynecologist who wants to remain up to date in the field of female infertility. E.V. van Hall. Leiden
Maternity Services in the Developing World. What the Community Needs Proceedings of the Seventh Study Group of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists R.H. Philpott (ed.) The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, London, 1979 Dealing with epidemiology, approaches to reduce mortality, maternity services, the newborn, family planning, midwifery care and policies for infrastructure (in the broad sense) and training, concerning Africa, Asia and South America, this report certainly drives home the lesson that the drive for highly specialized, technologically ‘optimal’ health care may be viewed as a privilege for some regions but that it is not necessarily the most economical deployment of human means to care for pressing human needs in larger parts of the world. Certainly somewhere between the ‘quality’ (as identified with spearpoint technology) and the quality of life for millions, a
124
balance must be found. The report is more of a survey than a coverage in depth, but this does not detract from its value. As we read it, the scope is more to present and stress a problem than to come up with fast and easy solutions. There simply are none. P. Defoort, Gent
The Practitioner’s Handbook of Ambulatory Obstetrics and Gynecology
J.D. Neeson and C.R. Stockdale John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1981 (394 PP.) This book has been written by two nurses with a wealth of clinical and educational expertise in the health care of women. It helps to define the role of the nurse in the actual medical care system. This book is intended as an aid to meeting these special needs and is directed at nurse practitioners and midwives providing primary health care in ambulatory obstetric and gynecologic settings. It is divided into three major sections: problems in ambulatory obstetrics, problems in ambulatory gynecology, and diagnostic procedures and laboratory values in obstetrics and gynecology. This practical book is written by and for nurses only, certainly not for family practitioners, residents, interns or medical students. Ph. Buytaert, Antwerpen
Clinics in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Obstetric anaesthesia and analgesia: safer practice
Michael Rosen W.B. Saunders, London, 1982 (442 pp.) E10.75 Decrease of the caesarian section rate, use of regional analgesia and anaesthesia and the presence of an obstetric anaesthetist and trained personnel can reduce the incidence of complications in the obstetric unit. The management of eclampsia and diabetes in pregnancy must be done in specialised centres by a team of specialists (physician, obstetrician, anaesthetist and paediatrician). Concerning drugs used in the obstetric unit we should (these) use these carefully, with the proper indication and at the right time. Thiopentone still remains the induction agent of choice for general anaesthesia, especially in case of fetal asphyxia. The anaesthetist and the paediatrician form the neonatal resuscitation team. They assess neonatal functions and undertake active and appropriate resuscitation. These important topics for safer practice should be updated by every specialist concerned in the obstetric unit. B.F. Vanacker, Leuven
The Infertile Female J.R. Givens (ed.) Year Book Medical Publishers, (545 pp.) US $63.50
Inc., Chicago,
1979
This book is based on the proceedings of the Third Annual Symposium on Gynecologic Endocrinology held March 13- 15, 1978, at the University of Tennessee, Memphis, U.S.A. For this reason it does not give a systematic coverage of all female infertility problems, although most of them are dealt with. Much emphasis is placed on the endocrinological aspects of infertility. The book consits of five sections: (1) introduction (mainly devoted to the menstrual cycle and its disorders); (2) endocrine disorders; (3) ovulation and conception; (4) mtillerian system disorders; and (5) ‘idiopathic’ infertility. Each section is followed by a panel discussion. The book contains perhaps too much information for students and residents but is most suitable for post-graduate education. It can also serve very well as a guide and book of reference. As usual (unfortunately) minimal attention is paid to the psychosocial and psychosomatic aspects of infertility. This is especially obvious in the section on ‘idiopathic’ infertility which contains only chapters on: hyperprolactinemia, hysterosalpinography, hysteroscopy and laparoscopy. As such this section does not provide much information on ‘idiopathic’ infertility, a relatively frequent condition which often appears to be frustrating for both gynecologist and patient. In the whole book only 3 of the 545 pages are devoted to non-somatic aspects of infetility. A nice attraction is a thorough pre- and post-test examination, each including approximately 70 multiple choice questions. With the reservations mentioned above, this book can be recommended to the gynecologist who wants to remain up to date in the field of female infertility. E.V. van Hall. Leiden
Maternity Services in the Developing World. What the Community Needs Proceedings of the Seventh Study Group of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists R.H. Philpott (ed.) The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, London, 1979 Dealing with epidemiology, approaches to reduce mortality, maternity services, the newborn, family planning, midwifery care and policies for infrastructure (in the broad sense) and training, concerning Africa, Asia and South America, this report certainly drives home the lesson that the drive for highly specialized, technologically ‘optimal’ health care may be viewed as a privilege for some regions but that it is not necessarily the most economical deployment of human means to care for pressing human needs in larger parts of the world. Certainly somewhere between the ‘quality’ (as identified with spearpoint technology) and the quality of life for millions, a
124
balance must be found. The report is more of a survey than a coverage in depth, but this does not detract from its value. As we read it, the scope is more to present and stress a problem than to come up with fast and easy solutions. There simply are none. P. Defoort, Gent
The Practitioner’s Handbook of Ambulatory Obstetrics and Gynecology
J.D. Neeson and C.R. Stockdale John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1981 (394 PP.) This book has been written by two nurses with a wealth of clinical and educational expertise in the health care of women. It helps to define the role of the nurse in the actual medical care system. This book is intended as an aid to meeting these special needs and is directed at nurse practitioners and midwives providing primary health care in ambulatory obstetric and gynecologic settings. It is divided into three major sections: problems in ambulatory obstetrics, problems in ambulatory gynecology, and diagnostic procedures and laboratory values in obstetrics and gynecology. This practical book is written by and for nurses only, certainly not for family practitioners, residents, interns or medical students. Ph. Buytaert, Antwerpen
Clinics in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Obstetric anaesthesia and analgesia: safer practice
Michael Rosen W.B. Saunders, London, 1982 (442 pp.) E10.75 Decrease of the caesarian section rate, use of regional analgesia and anaesthesia and the presence of an obstetric anaesthetist and trained personnel can reduce the incidence of complications in the obstetric unit. The management of eclampsia and diabetes in pregnancy must be done in specialised centres by a team of specialists (physician, obstetrician, anaesthetist and paediatrician). Concerning drugs used in the obstetric unit we should (these) use these carefully, with the proper indication and at the right time. Thiopentone still remains the induction agent of choice for general anaesthesia, especially in case of fetal asphyxia. The anaesthetist and the paediatrician form the neonatal resuscitation team. They assess neonatal functions and undertake active and appropriate resuscitation. These important topics for safer practice should be updated by every specialist concerned in the obstetric unit. B.F. Vanacker, Leuven