- Email: [email protected]
Surgical gastroenterology
BOOK REVIEWS Introduction to Surgery. By David H. Levien. Philadelphia: WB Saunders, 1987.284 pages. $19.95. As indicated by the title, this book provides a basic overview of the field of surgery. The scope ranges from proper history-taking and physical examination to critical care. Special attention is given to gastrointestinal, biliary tract, breast, and vascular surgery. The chapters are illustrated by case presentations, which offer both pertinent clinical information and organization of thought processes. Each section begins with a case history, which is followed by a succinct discussion of the disease process. The sections are well organized and each is presented in a similar fashion. Although the selection of subjects may be curious, many fundamental points are presented that otherwise would have to be learned firsthand. The book is pocket size, easy to read, and benefits from single authorship in the even quality and scope of the text, the former of which is often lacking in multiauthored endeavors. In addition, the supplemental readings provided current and thorough references to complete each topic. Introduction to Surgery should be recommended to supplement surgical clerkship readings and for beginning surgical house officers. C. Matthew Brown, MD Louisville, Kentucky
Surgical Gastroenterology. England: Blackwell Scientific,
By T.V. Taylor. 1985. 574 pages.
Oxford,
This monograph on gastrointestinal surgery provides a general overview which might be helpful to a medical student or intern rotating on the general surgical service. Disorders originating from the oral cavity to the anorecturn are briefly discussed, and clinical features and management are outlined. Some appropriate references are listed for each general subject. Since there is just one author, and he obviously possesses considerable writing ability, the book is immensely readable. It is not comprehensive in scope, although on some subjects, for example, the surgical management of rectal prolapse, various surgical options are discussed as well as the author’s own procedure modified from one or two of those listed. In summary, this monograph or another of its type deserves a place in most surgical libraries. This particular book is more current and certainly more readable than most. William C. Meyers, MD Durham, North Carolina
Operative Techniques in Arterial Surgery. By A.S. Ward and J.M. Cormier. Chicago: Precept Press, 1987. 413 pages.
I recommend this book to all surgeons in training and those in the practice of vascular surgery. The only comparable text, published in 1979, is Techniques in VuscuZur Surgery, by D.A. Cooley and D.C. Wukasch, which covers all vascular surgical procedures as well as accessory operations, such as sympathectomy and amputation. Compared with the above, Operative Techniques in Arterial Surgery contains twice the number of pages on basic technique and surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysm in 560
all its variations, as well as operations for aottoiliac, femoropopliteal, and cerebrovascular diseases. The 700 illustrations show the steps of various procedures and techniques without gaps and obscurities and synchronize perfectly with the text. The text distills the life-time experience of two master surgeons. Nowhere else is the technique of endarterectomy explored in such detail. With J.M. Cormier as an author, it is not surprising that the chapters on cerebrovascular disease are superb. The in situ vein bypass technique devised by Paul Cartier of Montreal, which has become popular in Europe, but is little known in the United States, is introduced to American surgeons. An unusual chapter is devoted to surgery of the bifurcation of the common femoral artery. Among the maneuvers described is bimanual digital dissection to establish a tunnel for bypass from the popliteal fossa to the anterior tibial compartment. There is no page bare of useful information. This is an Anglo-French collaboration but is international in scope. There are no regional eccentricities of terminology to confuse or irritate the reader. The majority of references in the extensive, up-to-date bibliography cite the American literature. The authors are to be congratulated on this valuable contribution to vascular surgical education. Peter B. Samuels, MD Tarzana, California
In-Situ Bypass Grafting. By George D. LeMaitre. dover, MA: Vascutech, 1987.159 pages.
An-
This compact paperback book details the evolution of insitu bypass grafting and critically reviews most of the major papers written on the subject. The author revels in the fact that he is not an academician and his style is informal to the point of being chatty. Nonetheless, the book is highly readable and quite enjoyable. It provides an excellent overview into the thought process that fueled the development of distal vascular bypass grafting using the in-situ technique. Dr. LeMaitre is not afraid to take a shot at some of this country’s leaders in vascular surgery for their operative techniques and methods of reporting their results. He is quite unashamed of hustling his own semiclosed method of performing the in-situ bypass and his own valvulatome for rendering saphenous vein valves incompetent. The book has several sections that are excellent, including a discussion of saphenous vein anatomy and a section on valvular function which is not readily found in most texts. An excellent and well-organized bibliography is presented as well. The major problem with the book may lie in its limited scope of readership. The book may provide too much historical information to be of use to most residents and too little material to be used as an atlas. Vascular surgeons in training will find the book useful, as will those with an interest in the broad aspects of the development of this technique. J. David Richardson, MD Louisville, Kentucky The American Journal of Surgery
Surgical Gastroenterology. England: Blackwell Scientific,
By T.V. Taylor. 1985. 574 pages.
Oxford,
This monograph on gastrointestinal surgery provides a general overview which might be helpful to a medical student or intern rotating on the general surgical service. Disorders originating from the oral cavity to the anorecturn are briefly discussed, and clinical features and management are outlined. Some appropriate references are listed for each general subject. Since there is just one author, and he obviously possesses considerable writing ability, the book is immensely readable. It is not comprehensive in scope, although on some subjects, for example, the surgical management of rectal prolapse, various surgical options are discussed as well as the author’s own procedure modified from one or two of those listed. In summary, this monograph or another of its type deserves a place in most surgical libraries. This particular book is more current and certainly more readable than most. William C. Meyers, MD Durham, North Carolina
Operative Techniques in Arterial Surgery. By A.S. Ward and J.M. Cormier. Chicago: Precept Press, 1987. 413 pages.
I recommend this book to all surgeons in training and those in the practice of vascular surgery. The only comparable text, published in 1979, is Techniques in VuscuZur Surgery, by D.A. Cooley and D.C. Wukasch, which covers all vascular surgical procedures as well as accessory operations, such as sympathectomy and amputation. Compared with the above, Operative Techniques in Arterial Surgery contains twice the number of pages on basic technique and surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysm in 560
all its variations, as well as operations for aottoiliac, femoropopliteal, and cerebrovascular diseases. The 700 illustrations show the steps of various procedures and techniques without gaps and obscurities and synchronize perfectly with the text. The text distills the life-time experience of two master surgeons. Nowhere else is the technique of endarterectomy explored in such detail. With J.M. Cormier as an author, it is not surprising that the chapters on cerebrovascular disease are superb. The in situ vein bypass technique devised by Paul Cartier of Montreal, which has become popular in Europe, but is little known in the United States, is introduced to American surgeons. An unusual chapter is devoted to surgery of the bifurcation of the common femoral artery. Among the maneuvers described is bimanual digital dissection to establish a tunnel for bypass from the popliteal fossa to the anterior tibial compartment. There is no page bare of useful information. This is an Anglo-French collaboration but is international in scope. There are no regional eccentricities of terminology to confuse or irritate the reader. The majority of references in the extensive, up-to-date bibliography cite the American literature. The authors are to be congratulated on this valuable contribution to vascular surgical education. Peter B. Samuels, MD Tarzana, California
In-Situ Bypass Grafting. By George D. LeMaitre. dover, MA: Vascutech, 1987.159 pages.
An-
This compact paperback book details the evolution of insitu bypass grafting and critically reviews most of the major papers written on the subject. The author revels in the fact that he is not an academician and his style is informal to the point of being chatty. Nonetheless, the book is highly readable and quite enjoyable. It provides an excellent overview into the thought process that fueled the development of distal vascular bypass grafting using the in-situ technique. Dr. LeMaitre is not afraid to take a shot at some of this country’s leaders in vascular surgery for their operative techniques and methods of reporting their results. He is quite unashamed of hustling his own semiclosed method of performing the in-situ bypass and his own valvulatome for rendering saphenous vein valves incompetent. The book has several sections that are excellent, including a discussion of saphenous vein anatomy and a section on valvular function which is not readily found in most texts. An excellent and well-organized bibliography is presented as well. The major problem with the book may lie in its limited scope of readership. The book may provide too much historical information to be of use to most residents and too little material to be used as an atlas. Vascular surgeons in training will find the book useful, as will those with an interest in the broad aspects of the development of this technique. J. David Richardson, MD Louisville, Kentucky The American Journal of Surgery