Anesthesia and Uncommon Diseases

Abstract

In the preface to this book is the bold statement, "The third edition represents the best compilation of basic science and clinical data available. Many chapters will become recognized as the definitive treatise for the subject matter presented.... We believe that the resulting text is a meaningful and exciting addition to the literature." In fact, the book struggles mightily, striking out several times, before getting a scratch hit here and there and a few notable home runs. Practicing anesthesiologists, desperately in need of a concise presentation of anticipated problems and projected solutions for unexpected clinical situations on the surgical list, will find some chapters suiting their needs. The section on infectious diseases is particularly well done, although the treatment of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome suffers from data that can never be current in a rapidly evolving epidemic. The author is particularly adept at tying together implications of the pathophysiology of