Handbook of Neuroanesthesia.

Abstract

Handbook of Neuroanesthesia.P. Newfield, J. E. Cottrell, eds. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 1999. ISBN: 0-7817-1607-1, 448 pp, $39.95. As with previous editions, the third edition of the Handbook of Neuroanesthesia provides a broad overview of the field of neuroanesthesia, combining basic scientific principles with clinical anesthesia in a concise, easy-to-read format. In addition, the handbook is filled with tables that can be consulted for a quick summary of important concepts. The handbook is divided into three sections: General Considerations, Anesthetic Management, and Intensive Care. New chapters have been added to all three sections, and preexisting chapters have been edited and revised to reflect new advances in neuroanesthesia. The book begins with an extensive review of brain and spinal cord physiology and the effects of anesthetic agents on neurophysiology. These topics are discussed and reviewed in other chapters as well. Some readers may find this repetitive, although others will appreciate the reinforcement of basic concepts. The first section of the book now also contains a chapter on neurophysiologic monitoring, a modality becoming more common in many routine neurosurgical procedures. This chapter covers electroencephalographic monitoring and evoked potentials, as well as transcranial Doppler ultrasound and jugular venous bulb oximetry. The chapters on preoperative and postoperative care are expanded and well written. These topics have become more important as the trend toward the anesthesiologist as a perioperative physician continues. The entire last section of the handbook is devoted to intensive care management of the neurosurgical patient. A new chapter on pain management has been added, which addresses some of the newer pain management techniques that may still be unfamiliar to many readers. The second section of the book covers anesthetic management of a variety of neurosurgical procedures. For anesthesiologists and residents participating in neuroanesthesia, this section of the book will probably be the most useful. Management, recommended anesthetic techniques, and potential complications of common neurosurgical procedures are covered, and less common procedures, such as aneurysm clipping and surgery for epilepsy, are discussed. A new chapter on neuroendocrine procedures, as well as expanded discussions of pediatric anesthesia and neuroanesthesia in the pregnant patient, has also been added. Neurosurgical procedures are more frequently being performed in the radiology suite, and the new chapter on neuroradiology covers anesthetic management and issues during these procedures. Although all the chapters provide a thorough overview of their topic, some chapters are easier to read than others. A few chapters are written in outline form, which is more difficult to follow, whereas others use a more fluid paragraph style. The use of summary tables by many of the authors allows for quick referral. Overall, the third edition provides all the essentials of neuroanesthesia with the addition of the latest advances and will be a handy pocket reference for neuroanesthesiologists as well as general anesthesiologists, residents, and medical students. The third edition supplies a comprehensive review of preoperative evaluation, intraoperative management, and postoperative care of neurosurgical patients.