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Upper Digestive Surgery: Oesophagus, Stomach and SmallIntestine
Book Reviews
BOOK REVIEWS Upper Digestive Surgery: Oesophagus, Stomach and Small Intestine edited by T.V. Taylor, A. Watson, R.C.N. Williamson WB Saunders, Philadelphia, 1999, 1039 pp., $295
The field of general surgery encompasses a large area of knowledge and because of this we have seen the development of areas of specialization into specific functional and anatomic areas of the human body. Surgeons are trained in the United States to be fluent in nine primary areas as outlined by the American Board of Surgery: alimentary tract; abdomen and its contents; breast, skin, and soft tissue; head and neck; vascular system; endocrine system; surgical oncology; comprehensive management of trauma; and complete care of critically ill patients. Yet it is becoming apparent that patient outcomes improve when a surgeon specializes and does a high frequency of only a certain area of general surgery. This area of specialization is occurring even in the abdominal cavity. With the advent of laparoscopy over the last decade we have even seen the alimentary tract divided into laparoscopic and open surgical cases. This appropriate fragmentation can be seen in the publishing of excellent books concerning specific areas such as hepatic and biliary surgery, colorectal surgery, and laparoscopic surgery. The editors of this book fill a niche for an authoritative textbook that covers the newest area of specialization—upper digestive surgery. The three editors divide the upper digestive system into three parts: the esophagus, the stomach, and the small intestine. A total of 74 contributors are involved in the book. The editors and publisher have
VOLUME 52, NO. 5, 2000
done a remarkable job with the radiographs that are freely produced throughout the book. The quality and magnitude of these consistent reproductions is one of the highlights throughout the book. The consistent quality of the figures in the book even with the use of multiple authors is also commendable. The book includes 90 color plates of both endoscopic and open surgical specimens at the beginning of the book with the black and white version of them in the actual chapter locations. Unfortunately the editors did not include any laparoscopic color plates even though laparoscopy allows excellent color photos. Given the role laparoscopy has in upper digestive surgery this is a drawback. Part one on the esophagus is edited by A. Watson with a total of eighteen chapters. The normal esophagus is initially presented with the appropriate diagnostic studies overviewed. The entire spectrum of esophageal pathology is then overviewed with appropriate surgical therapies outlined. The now standard laparoscopic approach to both achalasia and reflux disease are mentioned and the surgery described, but not to the extent that they have affected upper digestive surgery in the year 2000. This may be reflected in the editors’ comments in the preface concerning, “the gestation period of this work.” T. V. Taylor edits part two on the stomach with a total of twenty-three chapters. The strongest emphasis of this part of the book is on peptic ulcer disease with excellent overviews of both medical and surgical options. The chapter on surgical treatment of chronic duodenal ulcer authored by T. V. Taylor himself is the highlight of this part. This should be must reading for anyone who treats patients with chronic ulcer problems. Chapter 40, “Surgery for Obesity,” gives an excellent historic overview of this operation which is seeing a resurgence in the United States given the extent that obesity is affecting the population. Part three includes 20 chapters on the small intestine and is edited by R. C. N. Williamson. The small bowel is many times relegated to a small portion of any surgical text yet the editors gave it an equal billing in this book and I found this to be the most enjoyable reading of the textbook. The small bowel does not get as much attention as it should in the literature especially in the surgical literature because there are not as many “scheduled” surgeries performed on the small bowel as the stomach or esophagus. Bowel obstructions unfortunately do not have the glamour of the other upper digestive surgeries. The chapter on fistulas is one of the highlights of this part. Unfortunately the role of enteroscopy in small bowel disorders is overlooked. Part four is a
GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY
705
one-chapter overview of the pediatric aspects of upper digestive surgery with an extensive reference list. This is a nice brief yet complete assessment of the role of embryology in many of the upper digestive disease processes. In conclusion the book forms a good basis for a specialist in upper digestive surgery, be it a surgeon or a gastroenterologist. It is not all-encompassing in that a library of upper digestive disorders would also need a more thorough oncology text and a laparoscopic surgery monograph. Because of its excellent publishing quality, I hope a second edition is in the works that can be somewhat more up to date with the latest outcomes of the newer techniques of upper digestive surgery. Raymond P. Onders, MD Cleveland, Ohio doi:10.1067/mge.2000.110075
706
GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY
VOLUME 52, NO. 5, 2000
BOOK REVIEWS Upper Digestive Surgery: Oesophagus, Stomach and Small Intestine edited by T.V. Taylor, A. Watson, R.C.N. Williamson WB Saunders, Philadelphia, 1999, 1039 pp., $295
The field of general surgery encompasses a large area of knowledge and because of this we have seen the development of areas of specialization into specific functional and anatomic areas of the human body. Surgeons are trained in the United States to be fluent in nine primary areas as outlined by the American Board of Surgery: alimentary tract; abdomen and its contents; breast, skin, and soft tissue; head and neck; vascular system; endocrine system; surgical oncology; comprehensive management of trauma; and complete care of critically ill patients. Yet it is becoming apparent that patient outcomes improve when a surgeon specializes and does a high frequency of only a certain area of general surgery. This area of specialization is occurring even in the abdominal cavity. With the advent of laparoscopy over the last decade we have even seen the alimentary tract divided into laparoscopic and open surgical cases. This appropriate fragmentation can be seen in the publishing of excellent books concerning specific areas such as hepatic and biliary surgery, colorectal surgery, and laparoscopic surgery. The editors of this book fill a niche for an authoritative textbook that covers the newest area of specialization—upper digestive surgery. The three editors divide the upper digestive system into three parts: the esophagus, the stomach, and the small intestine. A total of 74 contributors are involved in the book. The editors and publisher have
VOLUME 52, NO. 5, 2000
done a remarkable job with the radiographs that are freely produced throughout the book. The quality and magnitude of these consistent reproductions is one of the highlights throughout the book. The consistent quality of the figures in the book even with the use of multiple authors is also commendable. The book includes 90 color plates of both endoscopic and open surgical specimens at the beginning of the book with the black and white version of them in the actual chapter locations. Unfortunately the editors did not include any laparoscopic color plates even though laparoscopy allows excellent color photos. Given the role laparoscopy has in upper digestive surgery this is a drawback. Part one on the esophagus is edited by A. Watson with a total of eighteen chapters. The normal esophagus is initially presented with the appropriate diagnostic studies overviewed. The entire spectrum of esophageal pathology is then overviewed with appropriate surgical therapies outlined. The now standard laparoscopic approach to both achalasia and reflux disease are mentioned and the surgery described, but not to the extent that they have affected upper digestive surgery in the year 2000. This may be reflected in the editors’ comments in the preface concerning, “the gestation period of this work.” T. V. Taylor edits part two on the stomach with a total of twenty-three chapters. The strongest emphasis of this part of the book is on peptic ulcer disease with excellent overviews of both medical and surgical options. The chapter on surgical treatment of chronic duodenal ulcer authored by T. V. Taylor himself is the highlight of this part. This should be must reading for anyone who treats patients with chronic ulcer problems. Chapter 40, “Surgery for Obesity,” gives an excellent historic overview of this operation which is seeing a resurgence in the United States given the extent that obesity is affecting the population. Part three includes 20 chapters on the small intestine and is edited by R. C. N. Williamson. The small bowel is many times relegated to a small portion of any surgical text yet the editors gave it an equal billing in this book and I found this to be the most enjoyable reading of the textbook. The small bowel does not get as much attention as it should in the literature especially in the surgical literature because there are not as many “scheduled” surgeries performed on the small bowel as the stomach or esophagus. Bowel obstructions unfortunately do not have the glamour of the other upper digestive surgeries. The chapter on fistulas is one of the highlights of this part. Unfortunately the role of enteroscopy in small bowel disorders is overlooked. Part four is a
GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY
705
one-chapter overview of the pediatric aspects of upper digestive surgery with an extensive reference list. This is a nice brief yet complete assessment of the role of embryology in many of the upper digestive disease processes. In conclusion the book forms a good basis for a specialist in upper digestive surgery, be it a surgeon or a gastroenterologist. It is not all-encompassing in that a library of upper digestive disorders would also need a more thorough oncology text and a laparoscopic surgery monograph. Because of its excellent publishing quality, I hope a second edition is in the works that can be somewhat more up to date with the latest outcomes of the newer techniques of upper digestive surgery. Raymond P. Onders, MD Cleveland, Ohio doi:10.1067/mge.2000.110075
706
GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY
VOLUME 52, NO. 5, 2000