Core Topics in Mechanical Ventilation Iain Mackenzie, ed. London, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2009. ISBN-13: 9780521867818, 440 pages, $190.00. Core Topics in Mechanical Ventilation was edited by Iain Mackenzie and sets out to capture the audience for which it was intended, namely, individuals seeking a better understanding of mechanical ventilation regardless of their level of training. A statement in the introductory chapter of this new book on respiratory physiology typifies the style and intended purpose of the book: “Do not remember any formulas in this book.” This multiauthored book is a practical but concise overview of the important topic of mechanical ventilation. A major strength of this book is the extensive use of visual aid and thoughtfully constructed illustrations, which maximizes the reader's ability to rapidly assimilate the information being presented. Much credit for the success of the book should be given to the individual contributors who are also well-known authors in the field of critical care medicine. The discussion of each of the important topics covered in the book is succinct, practical, and evidence based. Controversial topics in critical care and mechanical ventilation are handled in a clear, well-organized, and straightforward fashion to avoid creating confusion for the reader. The application of respiratory physiology is repeatedly stressed in individual chapters on modes of mechanical ventilation, oxygenation, and ventilation in special circumstances. This focus on basic respiratory physiology is practical and helps both students and practitioners to understand applied respiratory physiology with relative ease. The chapters on physiology of ventilation and gas exchange, nutrition, sedation and analgesia, and mechanical ventilation for special situations (e.g., asthma/bronchospasm, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and blast injuries) are extremely well written. The chapter on oxygen therapy provides a good understanding of the practical use of moisture exchangers and other related devices, a subject that is usually treated in a superficial fashion, or totally ignored, in many reviews on this topic. One negative aspect of the book from the perspective of the North American readership is the use of physiologic units, which are more prevalent in European practice (e.g., kPa). Nevertheless, the benefits of this book far outweigh such minor limitations. This new book is recommended reading for any individual in training or clinical practice who needs more than a superficial overview on the subject of mechanical ventilation. Although the book is strongly evidence based, it was neither aimed at being a reference text nor a “handbook” on mechanical ventilation. In summary, this concise, well-written, practical, and evidence-based review of the most important topics related to mechanical ventilation will be an extremely valuable addition to the library of physicians involved in the practice of anesthesia and critical care medicine. Editor Iain Mackenzie and his collaborators have laudably achieved their clearly stated goal in organizing this unique new book. Srikanth Hosur, MD Adebola Adesanya, MD, MPH Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, Texas [email protected]