Anesthesia for Genetic, Metabolic and Dysmorphic Syndromes of Childhood
Anesthesia for Genetic, Metabolic and Dysmorphic Syndromes of Childhood, 2nd Edn. V. C. BaumJ. E. O'Flaherty. Published by Lippincott Williams & Wikins, Philadelphia, USA. Pp. 415 ; illustrated. Price £76.00, US$149.00. ISBN 978-0-7817-7938-8.This reference text of some 400 pages has only two authors, both from the USA, both Professors of Anaesthesiology and Paediatrics. In the preface, they state that they have not aimed the book for anaesthesiologists who practice in large paediatric centres—well, it does not read like that. Certainly, in UK tertiary practice this is a most useful book. As they state, it is not a textbook of paediatric anaesthesia, it assumes competence, perhaps expertise and informs appropriately.
The layout of the book is original. It starts with a ‘how to use’ section explaining the standard, logical format of each of the syndromes explained. This is followed by a glossary of terms and then into the text of the book. Almost every syndrome a paediatric anaesthetist might encounter is here, listed alphabetically with alternative names cross-referenced. An index would be as superfluous as an index in a telephone directory, there is none. The book ends with several appendices reminding you of those metabolic pathways that have just slipped your mind.
Each syndrome follows a standard layout of name, synonyms, and reference number to McKusick's text ‘Mendelian Inheritance in Man’ (in case you wish to read in more depth). A physiologically systematic description of the syndrome then follows in which I learned a new acronym: ‘HEENT’ apparently American for ‘Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose and Throat’. Next are comprehensive anaesthetic considerations and finally an anaesthetically relevant, up to date bibliography.
In reviewing this book, it seemed illogical to read it from cover to cover and so I used it as a reference for cases which presented during the working week. Down Syndrome as ever was referred to early on, during the next few days I visited Charcot Marie Tooth, Edwards, Duchenne, Neurofibromatosis, Pierre Robin Syndrome, and G6PD deficiency. I tried to find West Syndrome—it is not there (no book can be 100% comprehensive!). I then randomly dipped into the book to look at other syndromes.
Apart from finding Dr West (who died in 1848), I was never disappointed, this book is a practical reference work written for the anaesthetist, the anato-physiological descriptions are directly relevant to anaesthesia, the anaesthetic considerations are practical, didactic, and so far in my experience correct. It is reassuring to find some syndromes with ‘no specific anaesthetic concerns’ stated.
This is an excellent reference book which should certainly be in every paediatric anaesthetic department, probably every anaesthetic department where children may be encountered and it is very likely to find its way into the personal library of many specialist paediatric anaesthetists.
The book's major strengths are its thoroughness and its direct anaesthetic focus. Its major competition must come from the Internet. It is very easy to put the name of a syndrome into Google or Wikipedia and come up with a list of references. The reader then has to distil out the relevant anaesthetic information and make a judgement on its reliability. This book has done that already and its broadband connection does not fail when most needed.
Most textbooks I am invited to review are donated to the departmental library, one or two stay on my own shelves, this one, and only this one, will stay securely locked in my desk so that I know where to find it. Colleagues can buy their own!
Sheffield, UK
E-mail: i.barker{at}sheffield.ac.uk
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