Book Review: Oxford Handbook of Emergency Medicine -Third Edition

Abstract

Oxford Handbook of Emergency Medicine -Third Edition By Wyatt J.P., Illingworth R.N., Graham C.A., Clancy M.J., Robertson C.E., Published by Oxford University Press INC., New York, 2006, 605 pp, $47.50. ISBN 0-19-920607-4 (paperback) The Emergency Room is a hectic environment that encompasses everything from penetrating trauma, pediatric emergencies to primary care office type visits. It is a place were the case load demands attention to detail with an almost obsessive compulsive personality trait to be successful. The wide variety of clinical situations and personalities make the team approach to the emergency room imperative. Dr. Wyatt and colleagues incorporate a broad array of emergency medical practices in their new third edition Oxford handbook. The emergency room (ER) is a monumental challenge for the medical community and the task of organizing a guide for emergency room physicians is no small task. With 15 chapters dedicated to common dilemmas in the ER, Dr.Wyatt and associates have compiled techniques, guidelines, differential diagnosis's and common complications that lay the ground work for the initial response to the appropriate referral or conciliation. The book is not available in a PDA format as of late. Formerly named The handbook of Accident and Emergency Medicine 2 nd Edition this is the only edition available and can be easily downloaded onto your PDA with both DOS and windows format. PDA form is set up with the same organization but with an easy to use searchable database. It is also, as stated by the manufacturer, frequently updated with new protocols and guidelines even though this is still the 2 nd edition. Although, it does not come free or discounted with the book you can purchase the PDA form from the parent site at http://www.oup.com. The chapters are succinctly written with a major description of any pertinent pathophysiology, diagnosis, disease state, or clinical considerations in paragraph form. Major points of action, differential diagnosis, management, complications, side effects, etc. can be found in easy to follow bullet point format. A nice touch is the problem based approach with points of interest such as the Approach to abdominal pain section. This approach helps define and characterize a differential diagnosis with appropriate cardiac tests, suggested radiographs, and appropriate chemistry with expected results. It then systematically recommends interventions and/or the appropriate next step. This new edition also offers the 2006 Resuscitation Council guidelines, as well the new Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS), Basic Trauma Life Support (BTLS), National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), guidelines. Unfortunately, due to the compact size of the book, it offers limited illustrations with the some of the more detailed described techniques. In practical terms the book is easy to read with simple practical information to follow. The authors do a well encompassed manual that takes into account the time restraints one has to look up information when confronted in the ER. It is this brief account that leads this author to highly recommend this book. This new edition devotes more of its Book Review: Oxford Handbook of Emergency Medicine -Third Edition 2 of 3 time to functionality then argumentative options in not so critical areas. The handbook is chalked full of landmark references, detailed criteria and current guidelines. It is hard if not impossible to incorporate all of emergency medicine in a handbook so small but this pocket sized companion accomplishes the everyday management of problems faced in the emergency room.