Anesthesia, 5th edition Hensley FA Jr, Gravlee GP, Martin DE. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 2012. ISBN: 978-1-4511-3744-6. 1145, $79.52 (USD)
Practical Approach to Cardiac Anesthesia, fifth edition, is the
latest version of this paperback textbook, first introduced in 1990. This book functions in between a comprehensive reference book and a basic introductory text for trainees. In this respect, it lends itself to a large audience of practitioners with varying degrees of experience. With 27 chapters and >800 pages complete with colorful illustrations and images, outline format allows this reference to encompass a large variety of topics with reasonable detail. In the opinion of this reviewer, this book would serve as an excellent resource for a trainee learning the core topics of cardiac anesthesiology if used in conjunction with a larger comprehensive reference book. This text may be a stand-alone resource in outline format for practitioners who have advanced beyond the introductory stage. The fifth edition of A Practical Approach to Cardiac Anesthesia appears different in presentation when compared with its previous edition published in 2008. Although the outline format of this text has been preserved, the gloss finish of the print paper contained within the text allows the publication of crisp, color-enhanced images. This is particularly significant with respect to 3-dimensional echocardiography and 2-dimensional echocardiography with color-flow Doppler, as well as digital illustrations and images, that serve to enhance the text. There are new updates to some critical topics within this revised edition. A section entitled Cardiovascular Physiology & Pharmacology has been added and incorporates 2 introductory chapters, Cardiovascular Physiology and A Primer and Cardiovascular Drugs. The former chapter is a welcomed addition in basic physiology. The chapter on Cardiovascular Drugs was previously placed within the section for the Anesthetic Management for Cardiac Surgery Copyright 2014 International Anesthesia Research Society DOI: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000000138
is now more appropriately situated within a separate basic
science section. In addition, the topic of congenital heart disease has now been divided into 2 separate chapters and expanded on. One chapter addresses the anesthetic management for pediatric patients with congenital heart disease, while the other chapter addresses management in the adult patient. This new emphasis on adult congenital heart disease is a welcomed addition as this area continues to gain importance for this expanding population of patients undergoing cardiac and noncardiac surgical procedures. The unique management of adult congenital heart disease is discussed with respect to patients who have survived to adulthood with uncorrected lesions as well as the clinical sequelae of pediatric congenital cardiac surgery in the adult patient. A separate chapter regarding Blood Transfusion has now been added, with a particular focus on the risk-benefit analysis and review of evidence-based outcomes regarding blood product transfusions in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. The tables entitled Fast Facts come directly from the American Red Cross Compendium and provide key points regarding known characteristics of administered blood products. Perhaps arguably, the most important feature of this recent version is the addition of key points at the beginning of each chapter, which outline important concepts. This allows the practitioner to rapidly cover the highlights of the chapter, which may serve as an initial overview or as a final recapitulation. Overall, this text keeps in line with The Practical Approach series and provides a hybrid resource between a comprehensive textbook and a review book, encompassing the essential topics in the field of cardiac anesthesiology. Its unique outline format, updated content, and digital images allow this resource to maintain its traditional following while providing a more contemporary presentation. Kamrouz Ghadimi, MD Stuart J. Weiss, MD, PhD Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania weisssj@uphs.upenn.edu
Transesophageal Echocardiography for Transmyocardial Laser Revascularization: Erratum
Due to errors in the publishers production process, Transesophageal Echocardiography for Transmyocardial Laser Revascularization" was published without author corrections in the March 2014 issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia. The corrected version appears here in the May 2014 issue on page 1146. The publisher regrets this error.