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Handbook for Anesthesia and Co-Existing Disease, 2^nd Ed.

Robert K. Stoelting, Stephen F. Dierdorf. Churchill Livingstone, 2002. 598 pages. $65.95 (CAN). ISBN 0-443- 06605-1

Toronto, Ontario

Anesthesia texts have continued to dilate over the past few editions.¹ To fill the gap between dedicated anesthesia texts and the ever-expanding world of internal medicine, Stoelting and Dierdorf are now into the fourth edition of Anesthesia and Co-Existing Disease. The handbook reviewed is a "companion" to the hardcover text.

Compared to the previous edition, the handbook has grown by over 150 pages. Some of the changes stem from changes to formatting (particularly the tables) to enhance readability. By changing the paper stock, it has retained the identical dimensions of the first edition. As one might imagine, the section concerning AIDS has grown to include tables of retroviral medication as well as postexposure prophylaxis. Other chapters that have seen substantial growth include the chapter discussing abnormalities in cardiac conduction and rhythm. It is interesting however that bretylium continues to receive mention and amiodarone’s prominence is equal to that of lidocaine despite the most recent ACLS guidelines.

In the setting of necessary efficiency inherent in a handbook some chapters are quite lightweight. The pulmonary hypertension chapter gives no mention to pulmonary vasodilators such as nitric oxide or prostacyclin. Chapter ten deals with aneurysms of the aorta and makes no mention of spinal cord monitoring or protection. The chapter discussing pulmonary thromboembolism includes a diagnostic flowchart that is out of date. Current prevention and treatment modalities are also lacking.

The book may serve as a useful memory aid to the junior level anesthesia resident on call. The consultant would likely see the sacrifices of detail and currency too great to consider this handbook for their library.

Reference

1 Reimer E. Anesthesia, 5^th ed. Vol 1 & 2 (Book review). Can J Anesth 2000; 47: 480–1.[Free Full Text]

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