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Br. J. Surg. Vol. 64 (1977) 453-456 Reviews and notices of books Endocrine Surgery: A Handbook of Operative Surgery Edward Paloyan and A. M. Lawrence. 210 x 145 mm. Pp. 269, with 48 illustrations. 1976. London: Lloyd-Luke. f13. SURGICAL endocrinology is emerging as a distinct discipline within surgery. The subject has appeal to surgeons with an interest in endocrinology and the physiology of the endocrine glands. This small book is an interesting addition to the literature. I t deals mainly with the presentation of endocrine disorders and the surgery of endocrine pathology. The short historical introductions to each chapter outlining landmarks of progress are of value. The book has 48 full-page black and white draw- ings. Some of these are useful but many could have been left out without detracting from the book. Disease of the parathyroid glands is given the largest section, but it is unusual that the discussion on parathyroid surgery should describe a single procedure for all occasions and not discuss the widely held view that surgery in primary hyper- parathyroidism should be related to the severity of the disease and operative findings. Virtually nothing is said, for example, about adenomas of the parathyroid glands. The main criticisms of the book are that there is very little on the immediate and long term results of surgery and that the description of diagnostic methods is lacking at times. There is no reference, for example, to the secretin test in the diagnosis of the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and the glucago- noma syndrome is not described. The book is really a beginner’s text in surgical endocrinology and it is hardly likely to fulfil all the requirements of a keenly interested postgraduate student or a surgeon developing a special interest in the subject. I. D. A. JOHNSTON Brief Textbook of Surgery Edited Curtis P. Artz, Isidore Cohn and John H. Davis. 250X 170 mm. Pp. 694 + m i . Illustrated. 1976. East Sussex: Saunders. f13. BY North American standards this is a brief textbook, yet a wealth of information is included. The editors state that it is desimed as a ‘core’ course for undermaduates whilst those Set against the overall excellence of the book such criticisms are minor, and Fluid and Electrolytes by Francis Moore and Bums by Curtis Artz are particularly good sections. At present inflationary prices the cost is not unreasonable for the quality of printing, type and binding and it can be strongly recommended to the British undergraduate as not only a ‘core’ book for his examinations but as one which could stimulate his interest and quest for further surgical knowledge. DAVID A. MACFARLANE Ion and Enzyme Electrodes in Biology and Medicine Edited M. Kessler, L . C. Clark jun., D. W. Lubbers, I. A. Silver and W. Simon. 240 x 175 mm. Pp. 4224-xi. IIlustrated. 1976. Munich: Urban & Schwarzenberg. No price given. THIS book reports the proceedings of an international sym- posium on ion-selective and enzyme electrodes. It deals com- prehensively with both the theoretical and practical applica- tions of such electrode systems in biology and medicine. The enzyme electrode is still in its infancy and several interesting papers describe enzyme estimations in tissues and fluids by oxygen and hydrogen peroxide release on platinum electrodes. These systems may prove to be of great value in tissue studies but more traditional chemical methods must remain the choice for biological fluids at present. The ion-selective electrodes already have an established reputation in measuring Na+. K+, C1-, NH,, Ca2+ and PO, both in tissues and biological fluids. This is dealt with in two sections in this book and is of great interest since ion fluxes across membranes etc. have up to now usually required expen- sive radioactive tracers and monitoring equipment. Construc- tion of pH and ion-selective microelectrode systems for intra- cellular studies are also described. The references following each contribution are few by modem day standards but this reflects the newness of this field. This symposium offers a great deal for the specialized research laboratory but little for the general surgical depart- ment. C. G. CLARK intending to pursue surgery will requirea ‘standard‘ textbook. None the less, to the British student the average standard Gibbon’s surgery Of the American book appears unnecessarily large and detailed for his David C. Sabiston and Frank C. Spencer. Third edition. 260 x 195 mm. Pp. 1592+xxi. Illustrated. 1976. Philadelphia: requirements, but this present volume will approach more closely to his needs and training. At just under 700 pages it is of comfortable size for handling and reference. The problems of THE most advanced and also established techniques in mouldingthe stvle of 65 contributors must have been formidable, cardiac and thoracic surgery are well described in this textbook. No price given’ but by a logkal presentation of facts, sound editing and excellent prose the editors have produced a book which is simple to follow, retains interest in the subject and is easy to read. The illustrations unfortunately are not of the same high standard, being relatively sparse and in some instances of doubtful necessity. Details of operations have not been included but there is a well-selected bibliography of references at the conclusion of each chapter. In accordance with American practice, gynaecology is included but not orthopaedics, which would have been more valuable in the UK. A number of chapters are devoted to special subjects which are useful but which would have benefited from a greater use of cross-reference. The sections on gastro- intestinal haemorrhage and on the acutely injured patient are sound and practical. Paediatric surgery is well presented but the inclusion of a further chapter on paediatric urology is repetitious and unnecessarily specialized. In contrast, the authors of the spinal cord chapter invited criticism from their own students and the result is a good treatise of that subject. Reference to transplantation is essential, but the overall balance appears upset when injection of varicose veins is not mentioned under their treatment, when inflammation of the salivary glands is not discussed and calculi omitted, whilst haemorrhoids are dis- missed in eight lines without reference to injection therapy. Entire chapters are devoted to subjects as varied as thoracic injuries, through to the surgical treatment of the complete atrioventricular canal. The sections on diseases of the lungs, pleura, trachea and oesophagus are vital ingredients of such a modern textbook in times when cardiac surgery demands and captures the attention of many registrars in training, to the detriment of patients who have non-cardiac thoracic disease or injury. The sections on the heart and great vessels are remarkable for their completeness and clarity of description of often conceptually difficult cardiac physiology and cardiac operations. The pharmacological and dietary management of atherosclerosis, as well. as all known cardiac operations, are justifiably given a complete section in the treatment of the coronary circulation. Dr Michael Lava’s chapter on blood-gas exchange and haemodynamic perfor- mance is as complete and as easily understood as we now cometo expect from this doyen of cardiothoracic anaesthetistspractising at the Massachusetts General Hospital. The growing edges such as the role of computers in cardiac surgical practice and heart and lung transplantations are well covered. This must be the best textbook on cardiothoracic surgery in print. C. LINCOLN

Endocrine surgery: A handbook of operative surgery. Edward Paloyan and A. M. Lawrence. 210 × 145 mm. Pp. 269, with 48 illustrations. 1976. London: Lloyd-Luke. £13

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Page 1: Endocrine surgery: A handbook of operative surgery. Edward Paloyan and A. M. Lawrence. 210 × 145 mm. Pp. 269, with 48 illustrations. 1976. London: Lloyd-Luke. £13

Br. J. Surg. Vol. 64 (1977) 453-456

Reviews and notices of books Endocrine Surgery: A Handbook of Operative Surgery Edward Paloyan and A. M. Lawrence. 210 x 145 mm. Pp. 269, with 48 illustrations. 1976. London: Lloyd-Luke. f13 . SURGICAL endocrinology is emerging as a distinct discipline within surgery. The subject has appeal to surgeons with an interest in endocrinology and the physiology of the endocrine glands.

This small book is an interesting addition to the literature. I t deals mainly with the presentation of endocrine disorders and the surgery of endocrine pathology. The short historical introductions to each chapter outlining landmarks of progress are of value. The book has 48 full-page black and white draw- ings. Some of these are useful but many could have been left ’

out without detracting from the book. Disease of the parathyroid glands is given the largest section,

but it is unusual that the discussion on parathyroid surgery should describe a single procedure for all occasions and not discuss the widely held view that surgery in primary hyper- parathyroidism should be related to the severity of the disease and operative findings. Virtually nothing is said, for example, about adenomas of the parathyroid glands.

The main criticisms of the book are that there is very little on the immediate and long term results of surgery and that the description of diagnostic methods is lacking at times. There is no reference, for example, to the secretin test in the diagnosis of the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and the glucago- noma syndrome is not described. The book is really a beginner’s text in surgical endocrinology and it is hardly likely to fulfil all the requirements of a keenly interested postgraduate student or a surgeon developing a special interest in the subject.

I. D. A. JOHNSTON

Brief Textbook of Surgery Edited Curtis P . Artz, Isidore Cohn and John H . Davis. 250X 170 mm. Pp. 694 + m i . Illustrated. 1976. East Sussex: Saunders. f13. BY North American standards this is a brief textbook, yet a wealth of information is included. The editors state that it is desimed as a ‘core’ course for undermaduates whilst those

Set against the overall excellence of the book such criticisms are minor, and Fluid and Electrolytes by Francis Moore and Bums by Curtis Artz are particularly good sections. At present inflationary prices the cost is not unreasonable for the quality of printing, type and binding and it can be strongly recommended to the British undergraduate as not only a ‘core’ book for his examinations but as one which could stimulate his interest and quest for further surgical knowledge.

DAVID A. MACFARLANE

Ion and Enzyme Electrodes in Biology and Medicine Edited M. Kessler, L . C. Clark jun., D . W. Lubbers, I . A. Silver and W. Simon. 240 x 175 mm. Pp. 4224-xi. IIlustrated. 1976. Munich: Urban & Schwarzenberg. No price given. THIS book reports the proceedings of an international sym- posium on ion-selective and enzyme electrodes. It deals com- prehensively with both the theoretical and practical applica- tions of such electrode systems in biology and medicine. The enzyme electrode is still in its infancy and several interesting papers describe enzyme estimations in tissues and fluids by oxygen and hydrogen peroxide release on platinum electrodes. These systems may prove to be of great value in tissue studies but more traditional chemical methods must remain the choice for biological fluids at present.

The ion-selective electrodes already have an established reputation in measuring Na+. K+, C1-, NH,, Ca2+ and PO, both in tissues and biological fluids. This is dealt with in two sections in this book and is of great interest since ion fluxes across membranes etc. have up to now usually required expen- sive radioactive tracers and monitoring equipment. Construc- tion of pH and ion-selective microelectrode systems for intra- cellular studies are also described.

The references following each contribution are few by modem day standards but this reflects the newness of this field. This symposium offers a great deal for the specialized research laboratory but little for the general surgical depart- ment. C. G. CLARK

intending to pursue surgery will requirea ‘standard‘ textbook. None the less, to the British student the average standard Gibbon’s surgery Of the American book appears unnecessarily large and detailed for his David C. Sabiston and Frank C . Spencer. Third edition.

260 x 195 mm. Pp. 1592+xxi. Illustrated. 1976. Philadelphia: requirements, but this present volume will approach more closely to his needs and training. At just under 700 pages it is of comfortable size for handling and reference. The problems of THE most advanced and also established techniques in moulding the stvle of 65 contributors must have been formidable, cardiac and thoracic surgery are well described in this textbook.

No price given’

but by a logkal presentation of facts, sound editing and excellent prose the editors have produced a book which is simple to follow, retains interest in the subject and is easy to read. The illustrations unfortunately are not of the same high standard, being relatively sparse and in some instances of doubtful necessity. Details of operations have not been included but there is a well-selected bibliography of references at the conclusion of each chapter.

In accordance with American practice, gynaecology is included but not orthopaedics, which would have been more valuable in the UK. A number of chapters are devoted to special subjects which are useful but which would have benefited from a greater use of cross-reference. The sections on gastro- intestinal haemorrhage and on the acutely injured patient are sound and practical. Paediatric surgery is well presented but the inclusion of a further chapter on paediatric urology is repetitious and unnecessarily specialized. In contrast, the authors of the spinal cord chapter invited criticism from their own students and the result is a good treatise of that subject. Reference to transplantation is essential, but the overall balance appears upset when injection of varicose veins is not mentioned under their treatment, when inflammation of the salivary glands is not discussed and calculi omitted, whilst haemorrhoids are dis- missed in eight lines without reference to injection therapy.

Entire chapters are devoted to subjects as varied as thoracic injuries, through to the surgical treatment of the complete atrioventricular canal.

The sections on diseases of the lungs, pleura, trachea and oesophagus are vital ingredients of such a modern textbook in times when cardiac surgery demands and captures the attention of many registrars in training, to the detriment of patients who have non-cardiac thoracic disease or injury. The sections on the heart and great vessels are remarkable for their completeness and clarity of description of often conceptually difficult cardiac physiology and cardiac operations. The pharmacological and dietary management of atherosclerosis, as well. as all known cardiac operations, are justifiably given a complete section in the treatment of the coronary circulation. Dr Michael Lava’s chapter on blood-gas exchange and haemodynamic perfor- mance is as complete and as easily understood as we now come to expect from this doyen of cardiothoracic anaesthetists practising at the Massachusetts General Hospital.

The growing edges such as the role of computers in cardiac surgical practice and heart and lung transplantations are well covered.

This must be the best textbook on cardiothoracic surgery in print.

C. LINCOLN