Book and media reviews

CAMERON’S CURRENT SURGICAL THERAPY REMAINS ONE OF THE most useful textbooks in the general surgeon’s library. Its classic format consists of short chapters (typically 5 pages or less) written by acknowledged experts. The chapters cover the breadth of general surgery but are primarily directed at therapy and well fitted to a busy surgeon’s needs. Over the last 2 decades, earlier editions have been embraced by surgical residents and fellows preparing for their oral board examinations, who subsequently rediscovered the value of their “old Cameron” in their new surgical practices. Havingdustedoff theiroldeditions, these surgeons then learned that a new edition would be published every 3 years. Each new edition had the same format and was concise, yet broad in scope, and always with new authors and new ideas. Surgeons accumulated multiple editions, with each edition containing favorite chapters that proved helpful over the years. ThenintheditionofCurrentSurgicalTherapy thusneedsno furtherendorsementthanits title.Theninthedition’s270chapters provide cogent insight into the vast array of surgical problems.Whetherit isaperforatedesophagusinthegastrointestinal laboratory, lye ingestion in theemergencydepartment,ornecrotizingpancreatitis in the intensivecareunit, theninthedition of Cameron’s Current Surgical Therapy is a great consultant. The contributing authors make use of limited space to present exceptionally effective tables and algorithms. The “Adrenal Incidentaloma” chapter contains simple, practical algorithms for diagnostic evaluation and management. The “Electrolyte Disorders” chapter includes tables and algorithms that make it one-stop shopping for the surgeon interested in this topic. The hundreds of illustrations are exceptionally well done, with the exception of 3 chapters in which the illustrations are too dark. However, occasional chapters offer color photographs as well as enlargements, adding substantial value; the “Virtual Colonoscopy” chapter additionally provides a 3-dimensional depiction. In the online version, the table of contents remains in the left column of the screen as the text appears. To continue, each section of each chapter needs to be opened, allowing the reader to go directly to the desired heading rather than scrolling through the chapter. On the flip side, even though multiple clicks are needed to read an entire chapter, the presentation is convenient and straightforward. Seventy-nine color illustrations have been added to the online version. Cameron’sauthorsoffer thepracticaladviceofsurgeonswho have been there and know the pitfalls. Readers familiar with each topic will immediately recognize that the author is an expert. Because of this, surgeons trust Current Surgical Therapy asoneof theirprimaryresources.Recently, Iperformedexploratory surgery on a patient with a central abdominal mass suspicious foracarcinoid tumor.Themesentericmetastasis at the rootof themesentery lookedexactly likethat inafigureonpage 151. The tumor was readily mobilized and resected using the author’s technique.Also, I recentlyused thealgorithmonpage 974indecidingtobringapatientwithabdominalcompartment syndrometotheoperatingroom.ThenewchapteronClostridium difficileringssotruetome;Isuspecttheauthoragonizesasmuch as I do in deciding whether to operate on severely ill patients with C difficile–associated disease. Esophageal surgery has its own distinct complications. A wonderfully concise new chapter discusses how to avoid and treat 4 operative and 7 postoperative complications of esophageal surgery. Another welcome addition is the chapter on damage-control surgery in trauma. Its discussion of the rationale, the initial operation, the resuscitation in the intensive care unit, and the timing of definitive surgery provide a potentially lifesaving reference for the trauma surgeon. WhatdoesthenintheditionofCurrentSurgicalTherapyhave to offer the next generation of residents? Each of the 19 sectionscanserveasaminireviewcoursefor that topic.Thisseems especially true for the30-chapter,150-pagetraumasectionand the 40-chapter, 200-page vascular section. The format is wellsuited to resident rotations, offering an easily attainable reading goal for the rotation. Beyond this, the book contains chapters seeminglymade fororalboardexaminations; “Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm and Unexpected Abdominal Pathology” is a good example. That chapter is an exercise in critical thinking, and that is what this unique text offers residents, fellows, and attendings alike: critical thinking, updated every 3 years.