ABSTRACT How often, in an era of expanding surgical knowledge and extending operative techniques, does a major textbook require revision? Sabiston and Spencer believe in a cycle of sevens. This fourth edition of Gibbon's Surgery of the Chest continues the seven-year pattern: 1962, 1969, 1976, and now 1983. A number of new subjects appear, each covered in considerable detail, including thoracic outlet syndrome, bronchoplastic surgical techniques, surgery in myasthenia gravis, management of cardiac dysrhythmias, and even the artificial heart.The fourth edition is a two-volume set of 54 chapters, by 106 authors representing 42 medical schools (including six outside the United States), with 1,776 pages. The 1,636 pages of actual text includes 1,453 illustrations, a rate of 0.89 illustrations per page, a commendably high ratio, unusual in texts other than atlases. The new edition is printed on 8X11-in pages and is separated into two volumes, which increases the ease of handling