This book, with the self-explanatory title 'Core Topics in Cardiac Anaesthesia' has no fewer than sixty-two authors covering sixty-six topic-specific chapters and a comprehensive index and abbreviary. Any of the sixty-two contributors reading this can breathe very much more easily from here on, as this is a very good book indeed, with few criticisms to make or points to take issue with.
The book has set itself clear objectives and very largely achieves them. Whilst trying not to be all-encompassing nor the only reference book required for this burgeoning field, it covers all the necessary and relevant areas to provide a sound basis and grounding in good clinical practice. The foreword, by Grocott and Newman of Duke University, NC, USA, correctly identifies that the book 'provide(s) the trainee with a very convenient framework onto which further knowledge can be added as it is acquired'. It recognizes that the authors have organized and presented information in such a way that the reader may 'more quickly see the bigger picture and appreciate the subtleties of cardiac anaesthesia'.
With trainees spending less time 'at the coal-face' of clinical experience, and independent anaesthetic practitioners in the UK facing annual appraisal and revalidation, this book's arrival is timely. It provides a logical, comprehensive, factually accurate and clearly laid out explanation of the diverse clinical, anatomical, physiological and pharmaceutical topics trainees need to learn, and cardiac anaesthetists need to practice. Such reminders to those of us who earn our daily bread in this field are surely welcome.
The extensive list of abbreviations at the start of the book is particularly praiseworthy. It reduces confusion and enhances the flow of the text in the following chapters. The book has eleven sections, divided into: Anatomy and Physiology; Cardiac Pharmacology; Diagnosis of Cardiac Disease; Cardiac Surgery for Anaesthetists; Monitoring; Routine Coronary Heart Surgery; Anaesthetic Management of Specific Disorders; Paediatric Cardiac Anaesthesia; Cardiopulmonary Bypass; Cardiac Intensive Care and Miscellaneous Topics, followed by an accurate and comprehensive index.
Each section is divided into chapters, ranging from just three, to ten. Each chapter's content is clearly identifiable, for example 'coronary physiology', and in an admirable feat of penmanship and editorial direction, this chapter is in fact where you will find the book's explanation of coronary physiology. There is little cross-over between chapters and each chapter covers the topic in sufficient detail to make it useful as a stand-alone reference text. One therefore does not have to read more than that chapter to get all the essential knowledge on a desired topic.
It is an up-to-date book, with this reviewer's particular bug-bear of up-to-date references well and truly addressed with the vast majority sourced from this century's published literature. There are chapters addressing all relevant recent and new developments in the specialty, including newly described receptor physiology, equipment developments, and changing clinical practice (e.g. postoperative care). The chapters are refreshingly free of unfounded personal bias and opinion presented as 'fact'. Discussion points and subjects of clinical equipoise are highlighted as such, and have source articles referenced for the reader to explore further.
It may be unfair to select out individual areas for particular praise but this reviewer found the chapter on cardiac receptors particularly well researched, illustrated and written. So too were the chapters on cardiomyopathies, myocardial stunning, regional anaesthesia, as was the one covering 'what to do if the patient won't separate from cardiopulmonary bypass'. These are, however, only a few particular highlights in a thoughtfully produced and well-written book. This book is highly recommended and it deserves a slot in all independent anaesthetic practitioners' bookshelves, whether they are trainees or have completed their training, as well in all departmental libraries whether there is a cardiac service on-site or not.
