CORE TECHNIQUES IN OPERATIVE NEUROSURGERY

By Rahul Jandial, Paul McCormick, and Peter Black736 pp, $279Philadelphia, PA, Elsevier/Saunders, 2011ISBN-13: 978-1-4377-0907-0

IT IS A PLEASURE TO SEE NEW NEUROSURGERY BOOKS APPEAR-ing in this era of change in publishing. The delivery of medi-cal and scientific information is undergoing a revolution.Paper-based documents are rapidly being replaced by elec-tronic versions, which can be distributed instantly and widelyif needed. A historical change presents itself in that bookson the shelves of public and academic libraries are givingway to digital storage and reading devices. This digitizingprocess seems destined to continue.

Although books in print format are certainly more at-tractive when displayed in a home library, the important ad-vantage of the above-mentioned development is that it en-ables publishers, authors, and even readers to continuouslyand rapidly update a work. The authors’ intent in Core Tech-niques in Operative Neurosurgery is to bridge the gap be-tween conventional print textbooks and the digital worldby publishing a paper-based textbook and a Web-based ver-sion. The Web-based version is actually the complete ver-sion, because it contains the illustrative video clips of se-lected operations. This version can be accessed from anycomputer with an Internet connection using the providedlogin information.

The content of Core Techniques in Operative Neurosur-gery is, in line with the classical concept, divided into 2 mainparts, cranial and spinal. “Cranial” comprises general, skullbase, vascular, and functional neurosurgery sections; “Spinal”comprises cervical, thoracic, lumbosacral, and minimally in-vasive spine sections. The most common neurosurgical ap-proaches are explained and illustrated in a point-wise man-ner. For each neurosurgical approach, the book provides theindications, contraindications, planning and positioning, “tipsfrom the masters,” and “bailout options.” Because the bookprimarily deals with operative details, disease-related infor-mation is beyond its scope. Therefore, this book should beseen as a practical guide for operations and as an adden-dum to other disease- and theory-based neurosurgery text-books.

Interesting features of the book include the discussion ofpatient positioning alternatives, pitfalls, and bailout op-tions. A great strength of the book is that it prevents the readerfrom becoming lost in details. This means, however, that ifgreater anatomical or surgical detail is required, the readermust consult a more specialized work. This book containswell-drawn color illustrations—not extremely detailed butcontaining the necessary information—supplemented bycolor photographs of actual surgery. The audience for thisbook can be interested students and residents, and it canserve as a reference book for experienced neurosurgeons.

Change is occurring not only in the format of literature

but also in the field of neurosurgery. Increasingly, the cur-rent generation of neurosurgeons is seeking evidence for theirsurgical actions,1 and in the absence of such evidence theyare motivated to obtain it using well-designed studies.2 Re-cent changes include a strong and most probably justifiedtendency toward minimal invasiveness, a tendency to ap-ply novel hardware-based technologies such as electricalstimulation or brain-computer interfaces, and a tendencyto apply innovative viral therapies, gene-based therapies, orboth. Although many authors have started to accommo-date recent changes in information delivery, recent changesin neurosurgical practice also should be recognized in con-ventional textbook format. In this respect, the above-mentioned digitizing process might be the perfect means ofmaking the most recent evidence and developments avail-able to neurosurgeons and, ultimately and most impor-tantly, to their patients.

Yasin Temel, MD, PhD

Author Affiliation: Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Neth-erlands (y.temel@maastrichtuniversity.nl).Conflict of Interest Disclosures: The author has completed and submitted the ICMJEForm for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest and none were reported.

1. Deyo RA, Mirza SK, Martin BI, Kreuter W, Goodman DC, Jarvik JG. Trends,major medical complications, and charges associated with surgery for lumbar spi-nal stenosis in older adults. JAMA. 2010;303(13):1259-1265.2. Arts MP, Brand R, van den Akker ME, Koes BW, Bartels RH, Peul WC; Leiden-The Hague Spine Intervention Prognostic Study Group (SIPS). Tubular diskec-tomy vs conventional microdiskectomy for sciatica: a randomized controlled trial.JAMA. 2009;302(2):149-158.

CARDIOLOGY ESSENTIALS IN CLINICAL PRACTICE

By Gabriel A. Adelmann365 pp, $239New York, NY, Springer, 2011ISBN-13: 978-1-8499-6304-6

THIS AMBITIOUS OVERVIEW OF CLINICAL CARDIOLOGY BY GA-briel Adelmann succeeds in its self-assigned task of includ-ing classical teaching as well as cutting-edge develop-ments. Adelmann has an impressive breadth of knowledgeand clinical expertise and writes in a style both precise andengaging.

Each of the 12 chapters includes a bibliography consist-ing of current guidelines applicable to the specific topic cov-ered in the chapter as well as suggested readings. An ex-ceptionally helpful glossary of abbreviations is provided. Thecomprehensive index enables the book to serve as a handyreference when specific questions arise (although readingthis book in its entirety is arguably more enjoyable than read-ing many comparable reference texts or the original stud-ies cited).

The first chapter, “Diagnostic Tests in Cardiology,” is amasterful exposition of the variety of modalities availableto diagnose cardiovascular pathology. The clinical focus iscombined with an expert point of view notable for incor-

BOOK AND MEDIA REVIEWS

2162 JAMA, November 16, 2011—Vol 306, No. 19 ©2011 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

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