Board Stiff Three: Preparation for Anesthesia Orals, with DVD, 3rd ed.

Abstract

Board Stiff Three: Preparation for Anesthesia Orals, with DVD, 3rd ed. Christopher J. Gallagher, MD. Burlington, MA: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2009. ISBN 978-0702030925. 440 pages, $74.95 (paperback). The 3rd edition of this oral board review book by Gallagher has benefited from the extensive updating of the previous edition, including a DVD with simulated oral board scenarios. The new edition is a unique combination of factual information, which describes both the old and new formats for the American Board of Anesthesiology oral board examination. The recently updated 3rd edition of this book is designed to assist the reader in making rational decisions when discussing various case scenarios. Most importantly, the reader is shown how to provide the examiners with answers that they can defend when questioned. The revised book provides the reader with a summary of the key items they need to study in preparing for the American Board of Anesthesiology oral board examination. For example, what pulmonary function tests could you order?; how to defend the use of a regional versus general anesthetic technique; and why the use of certain drugs are more easily defensible than others. Board Stiff Three discusses pre-, intra-, and postoperative management issues. Importantly, the book facilitates the readers’ understanding of the application of physiologic and pharmacologic principles to the anesthetic management of patients undergoing a variety of surgical procedures. It also simplifies the pathophysiology involved in specific clinical scenarios, improving the readers’ knowledge base such that their decision making is more logical. Board Stiff Three is organized in a perioperative (i.e., pre-, intra-, and postoperative) question and answer format and provides enough specifics to be a valuable oral board preparation tool. The book contains much useful oral board review information, and more importantly, explains “how to play” the oral board examination game. Because most physicians have limited experience in taking oral examinations, reviewing specific clinical scenarios and appropriate responses should facilitate the examinee’s learning curve in preparing for this unique type of examination. On the other hand, an important criticism of this book relates to Chapter 15. This chapter contains an assortment of stem questions and “grab bags.” Unfortunately, most of this material did not provide answers. Nevertheless, the session does provide the reader with some helpful hints and updates. Reorganizing Chapter 15 into a question and answer format would be more useful to the candidate preparing for the oral board examination. In addition, the humorous aspects of the book add little, if any, real educational value. Furthermore, whereas the DVD is highly technical, the author missed an excellent opportunity to demonstrate real oral examination scenarios. In summary, this book is a useful study guide for those in the oral board examination preparation process. The next edition of the book should limit the number of treatises and include more general instructions for how to improve one’s oral board examination skills. A critical review of actual oral examination case scenarios would be a useful addition to the DVD. Roya Yumul, MD, PhD Anesthesiology Residency Program Director Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA [email protected] Ronald H. Wender, MD Academic Chair Department of Anesthesiology Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA [email protected]