Br. J. Surg. Vol. 67 (1980) 455-456 Printed in Great Britain

Book reviews

Urinary Calculws Disease Edited J . E. A. Wickham. 240 x 164 mm. Pp. 207. Illustrared. 1979. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone. €1 I.W. IT is pleasing to welcome to the surgeon’s bookshelf a predominantly British contribution of the oldest of urological subjects, namely stone disease. The seven chapterscombine the various interests which constitute urinary calculous disease. Of particular value are the contributions from the Leeds group describing the six risk factors of urinary stone disease in a manner which is lucid, sensible and not dishearteningly physicochemical. The most interesting chapter for the majority of us is that written by the editor which lays before us the modern approach to the surgical treatment of calculous disease. It is here that we are led firmly along the path of the recent rational and successful approach of the subject matter.

The history, aetiological theories, epidemiology and anatomy are comprehensively covered with a wealth of re- ferences. A thorough review of the pros and cons of the various forms of medical treatment are described, and the clinical features, investigations and management as seen by the practising surgeon are clearly expounded.

The over-riding impression is one of an old subject given a new look, and the greatest benefit which will be derived by surgeons in general is the realization that extensive calculous disease is now amenable to gentle, patient and thoughtful surgery, as opposed to the old concept of doing one’s best in difficult circumstances with equivocal results. , CLlVE A. C. CHARLTON

Techniques in Vascular Surgery D. A . Cooley and D. C . Wukasch. 282 x 220 mm Pp. 2 8 2 f x v . Illustrated. 1979. Philadelphia: Saunders. €21.50 THIS book is a companion to Cooley and Norman’s Techniques in Cardiac Surgery and consists of 274 pages containing a comprehensive analysis of the techniques of vascular re- construction used by the authors. It covers every conceivable type of peripheral vascular reconstruction including abnor- malities of the thoracic aorta. I t has chapters on sympath- ectomy, fasciotomy and amputations, venous reconstruc- tions, portal vein decompression and the complications of vascular surgery. I t contains, in an appendix, the results and

Notwithstanding this, there are 441 pocket-sized pages, which shows just how significant in surgery these subjects have become. (Surgical curriculum planners, please note!)

The book is very well designed. In only seconds the student or casualty officer can have at his fingertips a brief authoritative description of the majority of problems he is likely to meet. I liked in particular the important early chapters on general principles of management. The illustrations are line-drawings, and they are perfectly adequate for their purpose.

In any book there will be details of treatment on which a reviewer can differ from the writer, and this book is no exception. In the management of fractures I sense a general preference for conservative treatment, with which I would agree wholeheartedly. However, in the detailed descriptions the impression is often given that the treatment of choice is the more radical of the various alternatives. Since I suspect this book is going to find its way into the pockets not only of students but of a good many orthopaedic registrars as well, there might be a danger here. More emphasiscould be made on the terrible penalties of underskilled surgery in the manage- ment of fractures.

In other parts of the book there are some important omissions. These could be put right next time by the addition of a very few words, and 1 think they are worth mentioning. I could find no description of muscle compartment compression syndromes. These are damaging conditions, easily missed, and yet so easily and effectively treated if recognized early. The hand injuries chapter would have benefited from more on the importance of immediate and late after-care and rehabilitation. More is recognized today about tennis elbow than is described, especially when one compares the care given to the description o chondromalacia patella. Both conditions are equally common and equally important. Spondylolisthesis is given rather short shrift. Perthe’s disease warrants a little more discussion on the pros and cons of the various alternative treatments.

However, I would not like these criticisms, which are meant to be constructive, to give any impression other than that this is a sound and most excellent book. I congratulate the authors and I hope they will keep the next edition equally terse and succinct: for students, that is this book’s particular value.

DAVID REYNOLDS

complicatioxis o f the authors’ personal series. The book contains a large amount of information and the techniques are clearly presented in the text. Some of the artwork, although elegant, is unnecessarily fussy and this detracts a little from the clarity ofdescriptions of the various procedures. It is a pity that the illustrations could not have been standardized throughout

Liver and BiliarY Disease Edited R. Wright, K . G . M . M . Alberri, S . Karran and G . H . Millward-Sadler. 272 x 188 mm. Pp. 1345 + xxiv. Illustrared. 1979. Easrbourne: Saunders. €38.50.

the volume. There is a limited, but useful bibIiogFaphy associated with each chapter and the enormous personal expertise of the authors is‘clearly evident.

In these days of inflated Prices. this book represents quite good value for money, and should be part of the library Of any

REFERENCE manuals seldom come up to expectation, especially when they straddle major specialties. In my view the recently published volume Liver and Biliary Disease is a notable exception and the editors are to be congratulated both for their choice of contributors of the various chanters and in obtaining ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ... . -

vascular surgeon. It is probably Of limited value to a general the right balance between the pathophysiologica1, investigg surgeon with an interest in vascular surgery as many of the tive, medical and surgical aspects/management of diseases of operations described are highly specialist and the common the liver and biliary tract. There are no major deficiencies in this procedures are ossibly not dealt with in quite sufficient detail volume and the inclusion of an authoritative account on nor is there suicient critical analysis Of when the operations heiminthic disease is very useful to clinicians in the West who, should be performed rather than how they should be carried by and large, have a limited experience of these parasitic out. infestations, and testifies to the comprehensiveness of the text.

C. W. J A M m O N In general, the information given reflects current accepted knowledge on the subject, although certain important recent advances such as percutaneous decompression in jaundice are inadequately covered and undue emphasis is put on others such as portal hypertension. This book is to be recommended as a reference manual for those physicians and surgeons with an interest in liver and biliary disorders.

Accident Surgery and Orthopedics for Students J , R. Pearson and R , T. Austin. 186 123 mm. pp. 441 +

Illustrated. 1979. London: Lloyd-Luke. €8.75. THIS is the second edition of an established and excellent little book. In the text there is not one unnecessary word. A. CUXHIERI