Anesthesiologist’s Manual of Surgical Procedures, 5th ed.

Abstract

This hardcover reference textbook has 1720 pages, and according to the preface, functions as, “an easily accessible source of clinically relevant information about a wide variety of both common and not-so-common surgical procedures.” This is the 5th edition, updated and revised by the authors, the majority of which are from California, and the primary author’s home institution is Stanford University Medical Center. New to this edition are video content accessible via www.YouTube.com and full electronic access through www.inkling.com as well as the use of their app for portable devices available in Apple’s App Store and on Google Play for Android users. The authors acknowledge the limitations of using publicly available video content, but we appreciated the inclusion of this material as we believe it will streamline the ability of the readers to find another venue for reviewing a particular procedure. As seen in the previous edition, the textbook is divided into 15 sections organized in an anatomically top-down approach starting with neurosurgery, ophthalmic, otolaryngology, and ending with out-of-operative room procedures, office-based anesthesia, and emergency procedures for the anesthesiologist. Not surprisingly, the content of many sections is unchanged from the previous edition; however, references in the form of “suggested readings” listed after all chapters, and many individual procedures have been updated and revised. This was clearly evident and appreciated in the trauma surgery chapter with double the references from the previous edition including, for example, recent changes to advanced trauma life support and the impact of antiplatelet drugs on trauma outcomes. The most significant additions were found in the sections of pediatric surgery and out-of-operating room procedures. One new chapter is on pediatric bariatric surgery with several recent references reflecting the relatively new and increasing challenges to the anesthesia provider. For this edition, management of the difficult airway and anticoagulation guidelines for neuraxial procedures were added to the appendices. ELECTRONIC REVIEW The electronic version included in this edition of Anesthesiologist’s Manual of Surgical Procedures is presented using the Inkling platform and application for portable devices. Content is also available through Amazon’s Kindle and Barnes and Noble’s Nook platforms, but they were not reviewed for this evaluation. Inkling is available through typical Web browsers found on a Mac or PC as well as the app available on tablets and smartphones using iOS or Android. The Inkling app allows the content to be easily downloaded and read without Internet access. Unfortunately, unlike portable document formats and other electronic access formats, Inkling does not allow the user to print any portions of the material. Inkling is an interface that allows the user to interact with the content via private or publically shared notes as well as highlighting, bookmarking, and copy/pasting into email or other applications. When the user makes notes or highlights on a device, it uses Inkling’s cloud to sync these additions across all the user’s devices and back up the data. The notes feature, while effective on the iPad, was not available on the iPhone. Within Inkling, the user can stream YouTube videos and access links to other Web sites provided she/he is connected to the Internet. The media are brought up within the Inkling interface, and when finished viewing a video, one can easily transition back to the previous location within the text. At the time of our review, 2 videos were already unavailable, which is a potential problem when referencing material that is managed by the public and YouTube (parent company Google, Inc.). The YouTube videos are grouped together at the end of each section under the heading “suggested viewing” as opposed to the suggested readings that follow each individual procedure. In conclusion, Anesthesiologist’s Manual of Surgical Procedures, 5th ed., by Jaffe et al. continues the series legacy as an outstanding textbook for the novice learner in anesthesiology. The utilization of both surgeons and anesthesiologists as authors is important because it provides the information, perspective, and foundation necessary to formulate a plan of care for surgical patients. Of course, anesthetic plans are not meant to be “cookbook” in nature but tailored to the specifics of both the procedure and the patient. This reference textbook, with the added portability and user-friendly Inkling interface, serves as an invaluable reference for residents and trainees in anesthesiology. Although the 5th edition has been updated and offers improved multimedia content, the significant amount carried forward from the previous edition makes it difficult to suggest it as a must-have for those with the 4th edition. The exception would be for those that value the electronic platform provided by Inkling. For those people, the 5th edition is an excellent resource that will enrich their digital library. Robert McLennan, MD Jeremy S. Dority, MD Department of Anesthesiology University of Kentucky College of Medicine Lexington, Kentucky [email protected]