Surgical Laparoscopy Update

Surgical Laparoscopy Update edited by Karl A. Zucker Quality Medical Publishing, St. Louis, Missouri, 1993, 482 pp., $115.00 This textbook is a follow-up to Dr. Zucker's previous text, Surgical Laparoscopy, and was necessitated by the rapid advances being made in instrumentation and surgical techniques in this field. This volume expands on several topics covered in the previous text, particularly advanced techniques for biliary surgery through the laparoscope. It also introduces many topics not previously covered. The editor is careful to point out in the preface that many of the procedures discussed in the text have had limited clinical application and should be performed "under the auspices of a carefully reviewed protocol." I would highly recommend that readers contemplate Hiram C. Polk, Jr.'s foreword to the book and the cautious message it conveys. The initial chapters on the fundamentals of laparoscopic surgery include very good discussions of available instrumentation, particularly given the extremely rapid proliferation of technology in this field. A chapter on techniques of suturing and knot tying is also clear and well presented. The chapters on biliary tract surgery focus on the treatment of acute cholecystitis and choledocholithiasis, including laparoscopic choledochoscopy. Included is a discussion of the complications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, drawing on the mounting experience worldwide with this technique. The authors have provided an excellent set of references for those wishing to review the details of the current literature. The chapters on laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery cover treatment for gastroesophageal reflux, peptic ulcer disease, peritonitis, appendectomy, and colonic resection. Experience in these areas is limited, but the authors provide nicely illustrated chapters describing the techniques and indications for the procedures discussed. These areas will evolve rapidly, with many surgeons already working out details of these procedures in their practices and surgical training programs incorporating them into their residency experience. The last section of the book covers several applications with even less clinical experience to date: splenectomy, inguinal herniorrhaphy, liver surgery, thoracoscopy, and pediatric laparoscopy. Although the coverage is by no means exhaustive, the chapters will provide readers with many helpful ideas to use in their own practices and help direct further reading on these topics. For the most part, the text is well presented. The quality of the illustrations and photos used is sometimes inconsistent, but in general they are quite good and easily convey the information intended. The text accompanying the material also varies in quality and depth, but is well referenced and should provide the 130

reader with a solid introduction to the areas covered. This textbook is an excellent addition to the growing library of material available on laparoscopic surgery and is a worthwhile resource for anyone involved in the field. Donald M. Jacobs, MD Minneapolis, Minnesota

Mastery of Surgery, Second Edition edited by Lloyd M. Nyhus, Robert J. Baker Little, Brown & Co., New York, 1992, 1891 pp., $250 This work offers encyclopedic and comprehensive coverage of surgical concepts and basic science. An introductory section addresses the general principles of surgery and subsequent sections are devoted to organ systems. As one might expect, a great deal of coverage is appropriately devoted to the gastrointestinal tract. Each section is composed of contributions by recognized experts presenting developmental anatomy, pathophysiology, treatment options, and postoperative care for the entire spectrum of surgical disease processes. Black and white figures are plentiful and well used. Illustrations clearly present the stepwise approach to the performance of surgical procedures. The "Editor's Comment" section at the end of each chapter helps to focus the reader's attention on the most cogent points in the chapter and presents updated material and emerging trends. As in the case of all works of this magnitude and complexity, preparation takes a number of years, during which changes may occur and new procedures may emerge. The present text has particularly suffered the consequences of that situation in that the entire new field of laparoscopic surgery (except for a few brief edito rial comments regarding laparoscopic cholecystectomy) is absent from the text. This book stands, however, as a credible and comprehensive surgical text. It would be a welcome and often consulted addition to any surgeon's library. Jeffrey L. Ponsky, MD Cleveland, Ohio

Atlas of Surgical Operations, Seventh Edition by Robert M. Zollinger, Jr., Robert M. Zollinger McGraw-Hill Inc., New York, 1992, 475 pp., 225 plates, $135.00

Over the last 54 years, the Atlas of Surgical Operations has been the standard by which all other surgical atlases are judged. Now with a new publisher, the seventh edition of this classic text is no exception. Its detailed, clean, black-and-white ink drawings have GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY