AORN JOURNAL
NO 4
Book Reviews
SURGICAL
Current Surgical Diagnosis & Treatment,
10th edition
Edited by Lawrence W . Way
1994,1,426 p p
$39.95 paperback
This book is an excellent source of information
about diseases managed by surgeons.
References to current journal literature are pro-
vided for the reader who wishes to explore spe-
cific subjects in greater detail.
This book is organized by organ system.
Beginning chapters provide general informa-
tion about the relationship between surgeons
and their patients and discuss surgical prepara-
tion, postoperative care, and surgical complica-
tions. Chapter five addresses the problems of
medically ill patients who require surgery, and
chapter six summarizes the surgeon’s legal
obligations and tort law.
Other chapters discuss wound healing,
inflammation, infection, antibiotics, fluid and
electrolyte management, surgical metabolism
and nutrition, anesthesia and shock, and acute
pulmonary failure. Chapter 13 discusses trauma
management, and chapter 14 summarizes bum
management.
The last section of the book focuses on body
systems. Pediatric surgery, oncology, cancer
chemotherapy, and organ transplantation also
are addressed in the main text. The appendix
contains reference material on chemical analysis
of body fluids, therapeutic serum level medica-
tions, and schedules of controlled medications.
Nursing students and medical students may
find this book to be an authoritative introduc-
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APRIL 1994, VOL 59.
tion to surgery as it is taught and practiced at
major teaching institutions. Medical and nurs-
ing practitioners may refer to the concise dis-
cussions of diseases they manage daily as well
as other diseases. Practicing surgeons may use
this book as a guide to the most current man-
agement strategies.
This book is revised and updated biennially.
This edition contains two rewritten chapters
and five revised chapters.
This book is available from Appleton &
Lange, 25 Van Zant St, E Norwalk, CT 06855.
KARENRICHARDSON, RN, BSN, CNOR
STAFFNURSE/OR
JOHNT. MATHER MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
PORTJEFFERSON. NY
Surgical Technology: Principles and
Practice, third edition
By Joanna R . Fuller
1994,712~~
$49.50 hardcover
This well-written book provides comprehensive
coverage of the role and aspects of OR patient
care from the surgical technologist’s point of
view. Each chapter is written in a logical manner
with learning objectives followed by discussions.
Study questions and bibliographies are at the end
of each chapter. The text is written on a technical
level and incorporatesproper OR techniques.
The book’s organization is appropriate for the
learner who is new to the OR. Each aspect of
appropriate care is addressed in a manner that
facilitates learning and retaining the material.
Sterility, instrument care, appropriate team con-
cepts, roles, and procedures are discussed.
Procedures are addressed in a system-by-system,