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Pediatric neurosurgery. Surgery of the developing nervous system
312
Surg Neurol 1984;21:312-3
Book Reviews
Pediatric Neurosurgery. Surgery of the
Developing Nervous System. Section o f Pediatric N e u r o s u r g e r y o f the A m e r i c a n Association o f N e u r o l o g i c a l Surgeons, editors. 705 pp., illus., $100.00. N e w Y o r k / L o n d o n : G r u n e and Stratton, 1982. The need for this text, as in other fields of medicine, has developed from the voluminous expansion of information regarding pediatric neurosurgery in recent years. As mentioned by the editor, it is impossible for either a single individual or institution to supply the necessary information for each subject within this subspecialty. The book has been admittedly developed not as a surgical atlas, but rather as a tool to advance knowledge in diagnosis and options of therapy in pediatric neurosurgery. These goals have been accomplished under the auspices of the Pediatric Section of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Some 59 contributors, all with special interests, have collaborated to make this book possible. By very thoughtful organization, virtually every topic encompassing pediatric neurosurgery is covered within the nine sections of this text. These sections include developmental abnormalities, hydrocephalus and intracranial hypertension, trauma, neoplasms, infections, vascular disease, miscellaneous diseases, diagnostic imaging, and metabolism (including anesthesia and intensive care). To give the reader some perspective as to the detail within these broad headings, the section on neoplasms includes 23 chapters on tumors. There are many salient features of this monumental text that might be mentioned. First, the authors of the various chapters were chosen on the basis of their special interests and in most instances vast experience on the subject at hand. The reader in turn benefits almost directly from that experience. Although most of the book entails surgical disorders and the treatments thereof, much space is devoted to nonsurgical problems. To understand in detail, for example, developmental disorders, infectious diseases of the newborn, and other phenomenon such as Reye's syndrome enhances the neurosurgeon's knowledge in such a way that he is better able to lay out a differential diagnosis and more wisely chart a course of treatment. The book necessarily must be current, and as such doing brings to the reader the very latest concepts in such topics as the hypothalamic-pituitary axis in health and disease and the state of the art in ultrasonography. Similarly, chapters concerning fundamentals in the related subspecialties of neuroanesthesia and neuroradiology will be of value to both the neurosurgeon and his colleagues in those fields.
When the word current is used it applies to no subject more than that of antibiotic therapy. This facet of therapy is dealt with in a splendid manner. Factors of age, allergy, presence or absence of foreign body (especially shunt infections), antibiotic synergism and mode of administration (i.e., need for intraventricular instillation), and dosage schedules are all covered in this chapter. Very valuable is this chapter alone to the pediatric neurosurgeon. To offer any criticism to this wealth of information would be inappropriate. In future editions, however, this reviewer would like to see some important additions. For example, the physics and treatment of complex intracranial fluid compartmentalization should be discussed. What are the options in a child with the Dandy Walker cyst, the encysted fourth ventricle or the case combining a chronic subdural surface collection and enlarging ventricles separated by a thin cortical mantle? Very few pediatric neurosurgeons have not encountered eosinophilic granuloma of the skull or spine. How is this disease treated? Similarly, osteoid osteoma and osteoblastoma of the spine should probably be discussed. Despite these few suggestions, this book provides a balance for the practicing surgeon. Time honored concepts such as production and absorption of cerebrospinal fluid are analyzed and in some cases (eg. the etiology of a cyst with leptomeninges and growing skull fracture) are debated. Options regarding the advantages or disadvantages to certain operations or approaches are discussed and, so important nowadays in our legal climate, the risks of certain procedures are enumerated. This type of balanced presentation allows the individual surgeon to examine many possibilities before arriving at his own conclusion as to what is best for his patient. This book is a necessity for anyone involved to any degree whatsoever in the practice of pediatric neurological surgery. JAMES D. GEISSINGER, M.D., F.A.C.S. Tallahassee, Florida
Fisiopatologia de los Traumatismos CraneoEncefalicos. By Dr. J u l i o Sanchez Juan. 275 pp. D i s t r i b u i d o r Libreria Medica, Calle J u l i a n Claveria s/n. O v i e d o (Espana). This book is an up-to-date review of the current literature on craniocerebral trauma. It is a Spanish edition, containing current information in a well-reviewed and well-organized manner. The book is divided in different sections, including a physiopathologic description of trauma and the different areas
Surg Neurol 1984;21:312-3
Book Reviews
Pediatric Neurosurgery. Surgery of the
Developing Nervous System. Section o f Pediatric N e u r o s u r g e r y o f the A m e r i c a n Association o f N e u r o l o g i c a l Surgeons, editors. 705 pp., illus., $100.00. N e w Y o r k / L o n d o n : G r u n e and Stratton, 1982. The need for this text, as in other fields of medicine, has developed from the voluminous expansion of information regarding pediatric neurosurgery in recent years. As mentioned by the editor, it is impossible for either a single individual or institution to supply the necessary information for each subject within this subspecialty. The book has been admittedly developed not as a surgical atlas, but rather as a tool to advance knowledge in diagnosis and options of therapy in pediatric neurosurgery. These goals have been accomplished under the auspices of the Pediatric Section of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Some 59 contributors, all with special interests, have collaborated to make this book possible. By very thoughtful organization, virtually every topic encompassing pediatric neurosurgery is covered within the nine sections of this text. These sections include developmental abnormalities, hydrocephalus and intracranial hypertension, trauma, neoplasms, infections, vascular disease, miscellaneous diseases, diagnostic imaging, and metabolism (including anesthesia and intensive care). To give the reader some perspective as to the detail within these broad headings, the section on neoplasms includes 23 chapters on tumors. There are many salient features of this monumental text that might be mentioned. First, the authors of the various chapters were chosen on the basis of their special interests and in most instances vast experience on the subject at hand. The reader in turn benefits almost directly from that experience. Although most of the book entails surgical disorders and the treatments thereof, much space is devoted to nonsurgical problems. To understand in detail, for example, developmental disorders, infectious diseases of the newborn, and other phenomenon such as Reye's syndrome enhances the neurosurgeon's knowledge in such a way that he is better able to lay out a differential diagnosis and more wisely chart a course of treatment. The book necessarily must be current, and as such doing brings to the reader the very latest concepts in such topics as the hypothalamic-pituitary axis in health and disease and the state of the art in ultrasonography. Similarly, chapters concerning fundamentals in the related subspecialties of neuroanesthesia and neuroradiology will be of value to both the neurosurgeon and his colleagues in those fields.
When the word current is used it applies to no subject more than that of antibiotic therapy. This facet of therapy is dealt with in a splendid manner. Factors of age, allergy, presence or absence of foreign body (especially shunt infections), antibiotic synergism and mode of administration (i.e., need for intraventricular instillation), and dosage schedules are all covered in this chapter. Very valuable is this chapter alone to the pediatric neurosurgeon. To offer any criticism to this wealth of information would be inappropriate. In future editions, however, this reviewer would like to see some important additions. For example, the physics and treatment of complex intracranial fluid compartmentalization should be discussed. What are the options in a child with the Dandy Walker cyst, the encysted fourth ventricle or the case combining a chronic subdural surface collection and enlarging ventricles separated by a thin cortical mantle? Very few pediatric neurosurgeons have not encountered eosinophilic granuloma of the skull or spine. How is this disease treated? Similarly, osteoid osteoma and osteoblastoma of the spine should probably be discussed. Despite these few suggestions, this book provides a balance for the practicing surgeon. Time honored concepts such as production and absorption of cerebrospinal fluid are analyzed and in some cases (eg. the etiology of a cyst with leptomeninges and growing skull fracture) are debated. Options regarding the advantages or disadvantages to certain operations or approaches are discussed and, so important nowadays in our legal climate, the risks of certain procedures are enumerated. This type of balanced presentation allows the individual surgeon to examine many possibilities before arriving at his own conclusion as to what is best for his patient. This book is a necessity for anyone involved to any degree whatsoever in the practice of pediatric neurological surgery. JAMES D. GEISSINGER, M.D., F.A.C.S. Tallahassee, Florida
Fisiopatologia de los Traumatismos CraneoEncefalicos. By Dr. J u l i o Sanchez Juan. 275 pp. D i s t r i b u i d o r Libreria Medica, Calle J u l i a n Claveria s/n. O v i e d o (Espana). This book is an up-to-date review of the current literature on craniocerebral trauma. It is a Spanish edition, containing current information in a well-reviewed and well-organized manner. The book is divided in different sections, including a physiopathologic description of trauma and the different areas