This is a collection that reviews subjects relevant to general and vascular surgeons. Each chapter is written or co-written by an expert on the topic, and represents a concise summary of the current literature and practice. Although not stated by the editors, the purpose is undoubtedly to serve as an up-to-date reference for general and vascular surgeons. Given the rapid advancement of surgical knowledge, the plethora of information available, and the limited amount of time practicing surgeons have to critically evaluate the literature, such concise, authoritative summaries are welcome. Each of the reviews in this volume meets this objective. The audiences to whom this book will appeal are both practicing surgeons and surgeons in training. This particular edition covers a variety of topics, including those relevant to general surgery (chronic pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease), surgical oncology (hepatocellular, pancreatic, breast, and rectal cancer, and melanoma), critical care (pulmonary artery catheters), and vascular surgery (carotid artery stenting, endoprosthesis). In addition, there is even a chapter addressing the aging surgeon and when a surgeon should retire. Consequently, this volume will be of value to most surgeons. A particularly valuable and appealing feature in this edition is the presentation of contrasting opinions by contributors who are experts on a particular topic. For example, there are chapters that argue for and against the use of angioplasty and stenting for carotid artery stenosis. Unfortunately, not all topics are covered in such a manner. In those topics that do not follow this point-counterpoint format, however, most contributors try toprovide a broad view of the subject and a balanced evaluation of controversial areas. This series has carved out a niche, providing periodic, up-to-date summaries of various topics in general surgery. Similar in content would be the journal Surgery Clinics of North America and Cameron's text Current Surgical Therapy, 6th edition (Mosby-Year Book, Inc., 1998). This text, however, is unique, as it is more detailed in its evaluation of a subject than the latter text, and more broad in its scope than the former. This particular volume reviews a number of pertinent topics that will have broad appeal to most surgeons. It provides concise yet thorough summaries of a number of topics which can be read easily, an important factor for most busy practicing general surgeons
This annual yearbook is a collection of review chapters covering common clinical topics of interest to the general surgeon. Each yearbook in the series is edited to provide an annual forum for the review of evolving and often controversial surgical management issues. Each book covers a different set of topics (the three previous tables of contents are listed) and like previous volumes, this one strives to make management recommendations based on a thorough review of the current surgical literature. The intended audience is general surgeons and general surgery residents. The editors have assembled a distinguished panel of surgeons from the major medical centers of the United States and Canada as contributors. The 18 chapters in the current volume cover topics ranging from the management of small bowel obstruction (concisely and clearly written) to the treatment of ARDS (a very logical set of algorithms) to the surgical management of metastatic cancer to the brain. The chapter on extrapleural pneumonectomy for malignant mesothelioma is very well Illustrated, but the book is not meant to be a surgical atlas and lacks adequate illustrations in its discussion of several surgical procedures. The small page format and writing style provide enjoyable reading. As a collection of unrelated review chapters, this book is not meant to replace the primary surgical textbooks nor is it a comprehensive, easily referenced resource for current surgical therapy. Rather, its niche is that of an enjoyable, armchair cover-to-cover read on current clinical surgical topics. The general surgeon who reads each yearly volume will find it an excellent method of keeping up with the surgical literature.
This 34th volume continues the tradition of providing concise reviews of general and vascular surgery topics that are relevant to the practicing surgeon. This book is divided into 18 separate treatises that encompass topics in surgical oncology, and endocrine, gastrointestinal, and vascular surgery. The intended audience is practicing general or specialist surgeons and residents who want a concise read on a patient problem. The unique and important features of the chosen topics in this volume are the timeliness and focus on relevant clinical issues that are often not clearly answered in the standard textbooks. For example, the first chapter deals with the current consensus on drain and prophylactic antibiotic use in breast surgery. Other topics that are on the cutting edge of surgical therapy include laparoscopic management of colorectal cancer and minimally invasive parathyroid surgery. The chapters are 10 to 20 pages long, are evenly written, and edited well for clarity and conciseness. Tables and figures, including reproduced radiographs, are well laid out and clarify the accompanying text. The emphasis of this series is clearly clinical and little basic science or theory is included. The only shortcoming I found was in the chapter on cardiovascular grafting for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair: a couple of diagrams comparing the available FDA approved grafts and the basic differences in the stented versus nonstented grafts would have been informative. Also, the last chapter deals with preoperative cardiac evaluation in the elderly and did not mention Eagle's criteria as a valid and simple way to stratify patients for surgical risk. However, these are truly minor criticisms.This volume is well edited and presents very timely and relevant topics. It should be available in every surgical library and is highly recommended for the general surgeon as well.
This yearly volume addresses recent controversialtopics in general surgery. The subjects this year are trauma andcritical care, surgical oncology, and gastrointestinal surgery. Thepurpose is to describe recent advances in general surgery. The bookimproves one's knowledge, focusing on a surgical review of critical orcontroversial topics. The expert contributors summarize the state ofthe art in general surgery. This volume is welcomed, as it is everyyear, and meets its overall objectives. Targeted especially forresidents and general surgeons, the book will be very useful tosurgical practitioners in a variety of settings. The contributors werechosen for their expertise and credibility. The text includesnumerous x-rays, tables, and graphs necessary for clarity of the book.The references are recent and extensive. The index is useful and wellformatted. This is a very useful book for residents and surgeons. Itbrings together the most recent literature in certain controversialsurgical topics. The subjects are exceptionally well selected. Thereferences are of excellent quality. The contributors also provide anextensive review of the literature on their topics.
Reviewer: Alan M. Yahanda, MD (University of Michigan Medical School)
Description: This is a collection that reviews subjects relevant to general and vascular surgeons. Each chapter is written or co-written by an expert on the topic, and represents a concise summary of the current literature and practice.
Purpose: Although not stated by the editors, the purpose is undoubtedly to serve as an up-to-date reference for general and vascular surgeons. Given the rapid advancement of surgical knowledge, the plethora of information available, and the limited amount of time practicing surgeons have to critically evaluate the literature, such concise, authoritative summaries are welcome. Each of the reviews in this volume meets this objective.
Audience: The audiences to whom this book will appeal are both practicing surgeons and surgeons in training.
Features: This particular edition covers a variety of topics, including those relevant to general surgery (chronic pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease), surgical oncology (hepatocellular, pancreatic, breast, and rectal cancer, and melanoma), critical care (pulmonary artery catheters), and vascular surgery (carotid artery stenting, endoprosthesis). In addition, there is even a chapter addressing the aging surgeon and when a surgeon should retire. Consequently, this volume will be of value to most surgeons. A particularly valuable and appealing feature in this edition is the presentation of contrasting opinions by contributors who are experts on a particular topic. For example, there are chapters that argue for and against the use of angioplasty and stenting for carotid artery stenosis. Unfortunately, not all topics are covered in such a manner. In those topics that do not follow this point-counterpoint format, however, most contributors try to provide a broad view of the subject and a balanced evaluation of controversial areas.
Assessment: This series has carved out a niche, providing periodic, up-to-date summaries of various topics in general surgery. Similar in content would be the journal Surgery Clinics of North America and Cameron's text Current Surgical Therapy, 6th edition (Mosby-Year Book, Inc., 1998). This text, however, is unique, as it is more detailed in its evaluation of a subject than the latter text, and more broad in its scope than the former. This particular volume reviews a number of pertinent topics that will have broad appeal to most surgeons. It provides concise yet thorough summaries of a number of topics which can be read easily, an important factor for most busy practicing general surgeons
