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Surgery of the Esophagus, Stomach, and Small Intestine, 5th ed
Atlas o f Clinical Hepatology edited by N. Gitlin, R.M. Strauss WB Saunders, Philadelphia, 1995, 338 illustrations, 192 pp., $125.00 This atlas provides color and black and white illustrations of clinical signs, gross pathology, photomicrographs, and radiologic images of almost all of the conditions that are encountered by a hepatologist. There are 18 chapters that pool illustrations in a logical fashion, usually regarding the category of disease, with chapters devoted to physical findings, images, special problems in AIDS, pediatric conditions, and pregnancy. Nearly all illustrations are 7 × 10 cm and are quite clear, with the photomicrographs, endoscopic, and radiologic images being the clearest of all. A few of the physical findings photographs are out of focus or are clipped inappropriately to clearly show the desired abnormality. This atlas is an excellent contribution to the field of hepatology. The modalities illustrated are those that every center has available, with the histology section featuring common stains available in all pathology departments. It has more high-quality illustrations than any previous atlas and includes not only the common conditions, but also many of the less common ones. The text accompanying the illustrations is terse and appropriate, with the learning experience coming from the pictures. The atlas will be of great value to medical students or faculty wishing to review the pertinent liver findings or select an illustration for teaching. The fine, color anatomic illustrations and photomicrographs rival and even complement the several texts devoted to liver pathology. This is a highly useful addition to hepatology literature and should be placed in all teaching libraries serving medical students, internal medicine or family practice trainees, or gastroenterology fellows.
Frank Iber, MD Hines, Illinois
Surgery o f the Esophagus, Stomach, and Small Intestine, 5th ed. edited by C. Wastell, L.M. Nyhus, P.E. D o n a h u e
Little, Brown and Company, Boston, 1994, 1009 pp., $199.00 This fifth edition of a highly respected surgical text contains no surprises. A staggering amount of work clearly preceded its publication. Comprising just over 1000 pages in a single-volume format divided into three sections, its 74 chapters are generated by 144 contributing authors. Every conceivable important detail of surgical practice awaits the reader. Of many numerous strengths that could be recited, I note that VOLUME 44, NO. 1, 1996
truly world-class scholars have provided a valuable infusion of comments, cautionary tales, and fine surgical technique advisories. Many chapters will obviously be more appreciated by those of us who perform surgery, yet internal medicine colleagues, often our partners in complex care issues, will not be disappointed. I note in cursory inspection of the author list numerous internists, pathologists, or other nonsurgeons. Three historical chapters that open their respective organ sections are the best overviews that I have ever read. Clarence Dennis, Harold Ellis, and the late Owen and Sarah Wangensteen provided these wonderful accounts, any one of which is a gold mine of fresh and new ways to look at old details. The arrangement of chapters is pleasing and the type face chosen is one of my favorites. In total, probably several thousand line drawings, diagrams, or photographs are in this book, skillfully employed and strategically placed within their texts. Tables are generally well constructed and user-friendly. There are no weak chapters, and so many strong ones that no review could do justice to all. My favorite three can be cited as typical of the quality to be found. Chapter 43 on remedial gastric surgery (Herrington and Sawyers), Chapter 44 on stapling in esophageal and gastric surgery (Chassin), and Chapter 58 on physiology of digestion and absorption (Jon Thompson) are "must reads." Chapter 52 by Otterson and Condon is perhaps the most unusual writing effort in recent surgical history, a meticulous accounting of every common and rare disorder ever reported for either the stomach or duodenum. With an amazing 485 bibliography citations, this chapter's impact and thoroughness will likely never be surpassed, even by its authors in a future edition. For any multiauthor textbook, a traditional habit of reviewers involves seeking evidence of perceived unevenness in scholarship. The three coeditors deserve praise for eliminating, probably before the galley proof stage, this potential weakness almost entirely. It appears that bibliographies were generally freshened; numerous citations are found to articles published in the 1990s. It is hard to speculate on the best audience for the book. Surely, colleagues in gastrointestinal medicine will get much use from it. Young surgeons just finishing training should have it ready for American Board of Surgery qualifying and certifying examination preparations. The most sizeable audience will probably consist of general surgeons who regularly deal with myriad problems of the foregut, and we would do well to keep a copy close by. This crisp classic is simply outstanding.
James T. Lee, MD, PhD Minneapolis, Minnesota
GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY
107
Frank Iber, MD Hines, Illinois
Surgery o f the Esophagus, Stomach, and Small Intestine, 5th ed. edited by C. Wastell, L.M. Nyhus, P.E. D o n a h u e
Little, Brown and Company, Boston, 1994, 1009 pp., $199.00 This fifth edition of a highly respected surgical text contains no surprises. A staggering amount of work clearly preceded its publication. Comprising just over 1000 pages in a single-volume format divided into three sections, its 74 chapters are generated by 144 contributing authors. Every conceivable important detail of surgical practice awaits the reader. Of many numerous strengths that could be recited, I note that VOLUME 44, NO. 1, 1996
truly world-class scholars have provided a valuable infusion of comments, cautionary tales, and fine surgical technique advisories. Many chapters will obviously be more appreciated by those of us who perform surgery, yet internal medicine colleagues, often our partners in complex care issues, will not be disappointed. I note in cursory inspection of the author list numerous internists, pathologists, or other nonsurgeons. Three historical chapters that open their respective organ sections are the best overviews that I have ever read. Clarence Dennis, Harold Ellis, and the late Owen and Sarah Wangensteen provided these wonderful accounts, any one of which is a gold mine of fresh and new ways to look at old details. The arrangement of chapters is pleasing and the type face chosen is one of my favorites. In total, probably several thousand line drawings, diagrams, or photographs are in this book, skillfully employed and strategically placed within their texts. Tables are generally well constructed and user-friendly. There are no weak chapters, and so many strong ones that no review could do justice to all. My favorite three can be cited as typical of the quality to be found. Chapter 43 on remedial gastric surgery (Herrington and Sawyers), Chapter 44 on stapling in esophageal and gastric surgery (Chassin), and Chapter 58 on physiology of digestion and absorption (Jon Thompson) are "must reads." Chapter 52 by Otterson and Condon is perhaps the most unusual writing effort in recent surgical history, a meticulous accounting of every common and rare disorder ever reported for either the stomach or duodenum. With an amazing 485 bibliography citations, this chapter's impact and thoroughness will likely never be surpassed, even by its authors in a future edition. For any multiauthor textbook, a traditional habit of reviewers involves seeking evidence of perceived unevenness in scholarship. The three coeditors deserve praise for eliminating, probably before the galley proof stage, this potential weakness almost entirely. It appears that bibliographies were generally freshened; numerous citations are found to articles published in the 1990s. It is hard to speculate on the best audience for the book. Surely, colleagues in gastrointestinal medicine will get much use from it. Young surgeons just finishing training should have it ready for American Board of Surgery qualifying and certifying examination preparations. The most sizeable audience will probably consist of general surgeons who regularly deal with myriad problems of the foregut, and we would do well to keep a copy close by. This crisp classic is simply outstanding.
James T. Lee, MD, PhD Minneapolis, Minnesota
GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY
107