E BOOK REVIEW
Anesthesia: A Topical Update – chapters focus on critical care issues relevant to periopera-
Thoracic, Cardiac, Neuro, ICU, and
Interesting Cases [Book Series:
Recent Advances in Anesthesiology,
Volume 2]
John AD. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates: Bentham Science
Publishers, 2018, 285 pages, Paperback $104.00 (USD),
eBook $59.00 (USD), ISBN: 978-1-681-08724-5 (Paper-
back), 978-1-681-08723-8 (eBook)
Downloaded from http://journals.lww.com/anesthesia-analgesia by BhDMf5ePHKav1zEoum1tQfN4a+kJLhEZgbsIHo4XMi0hCywCX1AWnYQp/IlQrHD3i3D0OdRyi7TvSFl4Cf3VC1y0abggQZXdgGj2MwlZLeI= on 08/17/2021
A nesthesia has developed significantly in recent years
with providers being expected to be increasingly
involved in perioperative care, maintain excellence in
patient safety, all the while meeting efficiency expecta-
tions for hospital administrators. Many practitioners stay
versed on new developments by reading recent literature;
however, this can be a time-consuming endeavor and the
many demands on time can make this an all but impossible
task. Recent Advances in Anesthesiology, A Topical Update, is
the second of 2 volumes by Amballur David John aimed at
providing a quick update for practicing clinicians who want
a convenient method to stay abreast of our rapidly chang-
ing field. John is an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology
and Critical Care at Johns Hopkins Medicine, where he is
the director of student education. He has written on a wide
range of topics from geriatric anesthesia to electrocardiog-
raphy. While the first volume looks specifically at anesthetic
issues providing essential clinical updates, the second vol-
ume focuses on major systems and covers more discrete
material. It represents an impressive collaboration, includ-
ing contributions from faculty at Emory University School
of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Wake Forest
School of Medicine, in addition to Johns Hopkins Medical
Institutions.
The book comprises 9, approximately 30-page chap-
ters, covering broad topics such as Thoracic Anesthesia as
well as specialized sections such as the Difficult Airway.
Each chapter is broken down as a standalone review and
update with unique insight from experts in their respective
fields. For example, in the first chapter entitled Anesthetic
Considerations for Otolaryngology and Neck Surgery,
Matthew Kashima, director of Otolaryngology–Head and
Neck Surgery at Johns Hopkins, presents an overview of
anatomy and surgical procedures, includes anticipated pit-
falls and complications, and suggests practical solutions to
prepare for those problems. The intensive care unit (ICU),
Conflicts of Interest: J. Chow is a member of Medical Advisory Board, Vyaire
Medical.
DOI: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000004318
e100 www.anesthesia-analgesia.org September 2019 • Volume 129 • Number 3
Copyright © 2019 International Anesthesia Research Society. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
tive patient care such as toxicology, noninvasive ventilation,
and reviews current literature on surgical site infection and
handoffs. A particularly interesting inclusion, the chapter
on Perioperative Medical Ethics and the Anesthesiologist,
explores anesthetic challenges in the context of modern
medicine, looking at evolving standards for adequate dis-
closure and informed consent, and our growing role as
perioperative physicians despite increasing production
pressures.
This topical update is not a comprehensive review;
however, it succeeds in covering complex topics in a truly
concise fashion. Depending on the reader’s aptitude and
experience with specific topics, each chapter can be read in
15–30 minutes, serving as a brief refresher on the topic in
addition to providing important advances. Those practicing
primarily in cardiac anesthesia may find the chapter on dif-
ficult airway more useful, while those focusing on ambula-
tory anesthesia may find the ICU updates informative. In
addition, each chapter includes many diagrams and refer-
ence tables to facilitate the ease of reading. The electronic
book is a downloadable document that is easily searchable
and more cost-effective than its paperback counterpart. A
spectrum of providers from the experienced clinician who
completed formal training years ago to trainees starting
their first subspecialty rotations will find the material pre-
sented pertinent.
There are few published texts addressing advances in
anesthesia. As the only textbook in the last decade to explore
changes in anesthesia, subjects are covered broadly rather
than in great detail and readers may need to reference addi-
tional resources if there is not enough information provided
for specific topics. However, for the cost and convenience, A
Topical Update achieves its goal of succinctly covering recent
anesthetic advances in a systems-based approach.
The practice of anesthesia is changing at a rapid pace.
To provide the best patient care possible, it is imperative
to stay knowledgeable about recent developments. Recent
Advances in Anesthesiology, A Topical Update, accomplishes
this by providing important updates in an easy to reference,
concise manner. This contribution by John et al provides an
efficient, practical update for the busy clinician.
Jarva Chow, MD, MS, MPH
Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
jchow@dacc.uchicago.edu