The Complete Recovery Room Book5th edn. A.Hatfield. Oxford University Press, 2014, ISBN 978‐0‐19‐966604‐1, 592 pp., Price £40.00

Abstract

This book is in its fifth edition in 22 years; we have a well-thumbed, coffee-stained previous edition in our Recovery room. Admittedly it covers a niche subject area without too much competition, but the book is pretty much a complete resource for anaesthetic and recovery nurses and Operating Department Practitioners. The book details clinical care in the Recovery room, preceding events in the operating theatre, relevant medical conditions and administrative aspects. It is good that recovery staff are expected to require more than just basic need-to-know information, as evidenced by the continued expansion of this book over time. It is very much a ‘personal’ book – there are 20 Golden Rules at the beginning, and various italicised quotes: “All wheezes are not asthma” (shouldn't that be “Not all wheezes are asthma”?). I found myself disagreeing with certain opinions, as is to be expected in clinical practice, but none so serious that I would come to blows with the author, should we meet. There are a few factual errors, for example the regional techniques chapter should distinguish the differences between epidural and spinal anaesthesia. There are also some general problems. The chapters are not in a particularly logical order, but there is an index so one can find the relevant topic. In addition, the layout of some of the newly-written sections has gone awry in places. There are two chapters at the end that cover audit and evidence-based practice; it would have been nice to have a reference here to the Royal College of Anaesthetists' Raising the Standard book, which is a great starting point for anyone trying to review practice in their own unit. Having written all this, at less than 7 pence per page, I believe it's a worthwhile investment.