Anesthesia Review: 1000 Questions and Answers to Blast the BASICS and Ace the ADVANCED, 1st ed

Abstract

Anesthesia Review: 1000 Questions and Answers to Blast the BASICS and Ace the ADVANCED is a new edition to a crowded field of anesthesiology board review books. Although it is clearly intended for anesthesiology residents, certified registered nurse anesthetists, and attendings who are studying for written anesthesiology board examinations, it also can provide all practitioners with contemporary insight into current practice paradigms and refresh their knowledge base in the wide range of relevant academic topics. It is divided into the “basic” and “advanced” examinations subject matter categories that one is expected to be proficient to pass the written anesthesia board examinations. The book is the collective effort of 13 residents, 7 fellows, and 9 faculty members at Massachusetts General Hospital with Dr Edward Bittner, being the most senior of the 4 lead editors, all of whom have critical care backgrounds. There are 25 chapters, each with an average of 40 questions that are divided into sections targeted at the basic or advanced examination portions of the written board examination. The soft cover format is highly portable with ample margins to accommodate note-taking. The electronic version was easy to use and provides the user with an interface to select answer choices. Supportive illustrations, particularly in the critical care chapter, are helpful for solidifying key points and concepts. As is often the case with books designed to sharpen the “test-taking-acumen” of readers, the questions are replete with a craftiness that surely provided the residents and instructors who created them with scholastic delight. To that end, many questions are formatted in the inquisitive tone, “Which of the following is the LEAST effective method?” These types of questions are creative to write and often match the wits of the authors to the anxiety of the reader. However, it is important for the reader to understand that this is no longer the format used by the American Board of Anesthesiology written examination. The American Board of Anesthesiology positive format for questions such as the “most likely, or most correct” minimizes the ability to demonstrate test-taking abilities over mastery of concepts. Therefore, the reader should use this opportunity to review all correct and incorrect answers as a study opportunity for mastering key concepts. There are citations to journals and textbook chapters after the questions for further reading and clarification. To highlight key points, the authors incorporate deliberate distractions that are designed to address key examination points. For example, one can only smile at the following annotated question: “When evaluating a 4-month-old for elective circumcision, you are told that the child had breastmilk with formula powder 3.5 hours ago. According to ASA fasting guidelines, how many hours must pass between this feeding and induction of general anesthesia?” Choices are 2, 4, 6, 8, or 12 hours. The correct answer is 6 hours, so thumbs down to those who proudly remember the 4-hour algorithm for breast milk. In summary, the book covers a broad range of topics and fills the need for the reader who has exhausted other question books and plans to use one that is easy to read, affordable, and has a good electronic interface. Franklin Chiao, MD, MScDepartment of AnesthesiologyWestchester Medical CenterArdsley, New York[email protected] Miles Dinner, MDDepartment of AnesthesiologyNew York Presbyterian Medical Center/Weill Cornell MedicineNew York, New York