Understanding Anesthesia Equipment, 5th ed. (2008)

Understanding Anesthesia Equipment, 5th ed. Dorsch JA, Dorsch SE. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2008. ISBN 978-0-7817-7603-5. 1056 pages, $149.00. Includes access to companion Web site. Understanding Anesthesia Equipment has been a reliable source of information about the technology related to anesthetic equipment since the first edition was published in 1975. Since the first edition, Drs. Susan and Jerry Dorsch have remained the sole authors. The book has been described by many as a “must have” text for all persons delivering anesthetics at every level of training. This year the widely popular book comes back for a 5th edition with updates to prior chapters, a new online format, and additional sections that continue to make obvious the invaluable nature of this resource. The newest version remains a “must have and read.” That applies to all persons working with anesthesia equipment, from the most junior trainee to the technology expert—including anesthesiologists, nurse anesthetists, anesthesia assistants, clinical engineers, and equipment technicians, designers, and manufacturers. This edition contains 1056 pages, a far cry from the 311 pages of the first edition, but has retained the same general format and straightforward style, with the majority of the references being case reports, journal articles, and publications on standards and hazards. This single volume textbook is divided into 6 sections and 34 chapters. The topics addressed in the sections include: 1) Gas Supply and Distribution Systems, 2) Anesthesia Machines and Breathing Systems, 3) Airway Equipment, 4) Monitoring Devices, 5) Equipment Related to Environmental Systems (Out of OR, Fires, and Patient Warming), and 6) Equipment Care. Purchase of the book also includes access to a companion Web site, where the entire text, questions, figures, and tables can be viewed online (www.understandinganesthesiaequipment.com). Those who do not own the book can search the Web site and find text specific to the search. Registered owners have full access to the entire book, including all figures. Copying, pasting, and incorporating text and figures into other documents is easy. The first edition was intended to be a description of anesthetic equipment, introduced at a time when recognition of increasing morbidity and mortality related to unfamiliarity with anesthetic equipment was recognized. Each subject covered the basics through sophisticated enlightening description of equipment function and malfunction. There are several new chapters in the 5th edition, including new information on latex allergies, suction devices, temperature monitoring and control, double-lumen tubes, operating room fires, the MRI environment, and emergency airway equipment. However, the particularly outstanding chapters cover topics addressed in the first edition: “The Anesthesia Machine,” “Vaporizers,” and “Anesthesia Ventilators.” As with previous editions, the style is technical yet surprisingly easy to read. Indeed, the Dorschs’ are gifted writers in their ability to break down complex topics into intelligible, logical segments. They deftly combine a high level of detail in the text with the diagrams, photos, and tables to make understanding easy even for novice anesthetists. There is enough physics and engineering presented to make the chapter understandable without becoming overwhelming. Each chapter ends with multiple-choice “Standard-Exam style” questions to help solidify this knowledge. The perseverance of Susan and Jerry Dorsch in publishing 5 editions over 33 years is well recognized within the anesthesia community. In 2006, they presented the N. Ty Smith Annual Dinner Lecture at ASA entitled “Two Careers: A Retrospective.” Attendees learned that the Dorchs’ kitchen table became the layout surface for drafts of each edition. They have announced that the 5th edition will be the last that they will personally write and express the hope that younger anesthesiologists will take on the responsibility to continue this publication. In the preface, they write: “We would like to challenge and encourage others to take up where we have left off. We would be happy to help future authors in any way we can. While it entails a tremendous amount of work, the rewards are priceless.” Susan and Jerry Dorsch are tremendous educators, and the newest edition is the standard to which all other texts on anesthetic equipment are compared. It remains essential reading for all in the field. Rahul Koka, MD [email protected] James H. Philip, MEE, MD, CCE [email protected] Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine Brigham and Women’s Hospital Harvard Medical School Boston, MA