The Oxford American Handbook of Anesthesiology

Abstract

The Oxford American Handbook of Anesthesiology McQuillan PM, Allman KG, Wilason IA. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008. ISBN 978-0-19-530120-5. 1194 pages, $39.95. The Oxford American Handbook of Anesthesiology is the first American edition of a successful text with origins in the European anesthesia market. The authors' primary goal was to produce a handbook that provided clinically useful information. This is made clear in their statement that the text was “written by anesthesiologists for anesthesiologists.” The authors specifically attempted to “Americanize” this text by including recommendations, guidelines, and references to pharmaceuticals and anesthesia-related organizations found in North America. This text remains a very well written and useful resource, with structure and content similar to the previous European editions. This edition is divided into 8 sections with a total of 43 chapters. The first 2 sections, covering preoperative assessment, preparation for anesthesia, co-existing disease states, and anesthesia for specific surgical procedures, contain the majority of the text. The chapters are written with an introductory paragraph followed by bullet points and numerous useful tables and charts. The final chapter of this text entitled “Anesthesia Data” is particularly useful, given that it provides a condensed quick reference to equations and facts useful in everyday practice. The Oxford American Handbook of Anesthesiology is thinner than its European counterpart making this edition easier to carry and more practical. A 62-page drug formulary has been deleted from the American edition. The authors have thoughtfully added blank pages between chapters, allowing space for reader notations. On the other hand, this work would have benefited from a more comprehensive discussion of regional anesthesia and pain management. There is no meaningful discussion of ultrasound technology or its use in peripheral nerve blocks. The authors present information in the same format as in the European edition, and the result is an easy-to-read, clinically relevant compendium on a broad range of topics. The content and size of this handbook make it useful and practical for the American anesthesiologist. Given the modest changes in core content, the purchase of The Oxford American Handbook of Anesthesiology by those who already own the European edition of The Oxford Handbook of Anesthesia, 2nd edition cannot be recommended. However the American edition of this text should be considered for the practicing American anesthesiologist who does not already have access to its European counterpart. Michael S. Boger, MD Anesthesia Resident [email protected] David A. Nakata, MD, MBA Associate Professor of Clinical Anesthesia Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN [email protected]