Before the Scalpel: What Everyone Should Know About Anesthesia [Perfect Paperback]

Panchali Dhar M.D. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2010

Before the Scalpel: What Everyone Should Know about Anesthesia demystifies the issues surrounding the types and uses of anesthesia and addresses common fears about wakefulness and pain. Straightforward language, real-life examples, photographs and illustrations guide you. Individual chapters focus on how anesthesia is used in plastic and cosmetic surgery, labor, and for dental care. Other chapters explore the special needs of babies and children, how surgeons and anesthesiologists have adapted their techniques in response to growing obesity rates, and discuss how to avoid post-operative nausea and vomiting. Throughout the book, Dr. Dhar carefully flags issues directly affecting your medical care. Each chapter ends with an invaluable checklist, called prescriptives, that highlights key points and provides space to take notes when you talk with your surgeon or anesthesia provider. The checklists help you ask questions relevant to your case and ensure that you receive and remember the answers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

''Dr. Dhar's book is so readable, concise, and informative that it should be assigned reading by surgeons and physicians to their patients who are preparing for surgery or procedures requiring sedation. Before the Scalpel reaches a difficult balance by being substantive enough to provide a review for the medical professional while being easily comprehensible to the layperson. Very timely publication; it fills that gap in every patient's operative preparation.''--Robert M. Rey, MPP, featured on E! Entertainment's hit series, Dr. 90210

''In an age of information overload, anesthesia the art of comfort remains the dark continent of medicine for most patients. We put ourselves in the presiding doctor's hands blindly, trusting that our pain and awareness will be dulled in exchange for giving ourselves over to the needle, the gas mask, the IV full of narcotics and sedatives. Before the Scalpel does an admirable job of closing this gap, presenting the why's and wherefore's of anesthesia in a crisp and lucid style. Panchali Dhar has thought of all the possible questions and fears that patients might have concerning this crucial but mostly unexplained procedure and addresses them one by one. This is a must-read for anyone who wants to be better informed about his or her medical care.
--Daphne Merkin, novelist, critic, and contributing writer to the New York Times Magazine

''The book is beautifully written in a simple yet elegant style, presenting extremely difficult concepts in an easy-to-understand format . . . Every sentence, every concept is crisp and concise and valuable to anyone who plans an operating room experience . . . All surgeons should make this book available to their patients to read.'' ----Ira H. Kirschenbaum, MD, founding executive director of Medscape Orthopaedics, now part of the WebMD family

The book is beautifully written in a simple yet elegant style, presenting extremely difficult concepts in an easy-to-understand format...Every sentence, every concept is crisp and concise and valuable to anyone who plans an operating room experience....All surgeons should make this book available to their patients to read. --Ira H. Kirschenbaum, MD, founding executive director of Medscape Orthopaedics, now part of the WebMD family

In an age of information overload, anesthesia the art of comfort remains the dark continent of medicine for most patients. We put ourselves in the presiding doctor's hands blindly, trusting that our pain and awareness will be dulled in exchange for giving ourselves over to the needle, the gas mask, the IV full of narcotics and sedatives. Before the Scalpel does an admirable job of closing this gap, presenting the why's and wherefore's of anesthesia in a crisp and lucid style. Panchali Dhar has thought of all the possible questions and fears that patients might have concerning this crucial but mostly unexplained procedure and addresses them one by one. This is a must-read for anyone who wants to be better informed about his or her medical care. --Daphne Merkin, novelist, critic, and contributing writer to the New York Times Magazine

The book is beautifully written in a simple yet elegant style, presenting extremely difficult concepts in an easy-to-understand format...Every sentence, every concept is crisp and concise and valuable to anyone who plans an operating room experience....All surgeons should make this book available to their patients to read. --Ira H. Kirschenbaum, MD, founding executive director of Medscape Orthopaedics, now part of the WebMD family

In an age of information overload, anesthesia the art of comfort remains the dark continent of medicine for most patients. We put ourselves in the presiding doctor's hands blindly, trusting that our pain and awareness will be dulled in exchange for giving ourselves over to the needle, the gas mask, the IV full of narcotics and sedatives. Before the Scalpel does an admirable job of closing this gap, presenting the why's and wherefore's of anesthesia in a crisp and lucid style. Panchali Dhar has thought of all the possible questions and fears that patients might have concerning this crucial but mostly unexplained procedure and addresses them one by one. This is a must-read for anyone who wants to be better informed about his or her medical care. --Daphne Merkin, novelist, critic, and contributing writer to the New York Times Magazine

About the Author

Panchali Dhar, MD, is an anesthesiologist a doctor who helps people undergo medical procedures free from pain. Today she is an active member of the faculty in the Department of Anesthesiology at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Medical College of Cornell University. Each day she works with patients who entrust their lives to her skilled hands.

Product Details

• Perfect Paperback: 213 pages
• Publisher: Tell Me Press, LLC; First edition (January 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0981645305
• ISBN-13: 978-0981645308
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,169,315 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Patient Power, September 2, 2009

By 

Nancy Lombardo "Momedy" (New York City) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Before the Scalpel: What Everyone Should Know About Anesthesia (Perfect Paperback)

I found Dr. Dhars "Before the Scalpel" one of the most patient empowering books to date. A must read before any anesthetic procedure. This book explains step by step what is involved for the patient and the patients' rights. If you or someone you know is planning any kind of surgery get this book now. You'll feel better because knowledge is power, Patient Power.

Nancy Lombardo host of Comedy Concepts Blog Talk Radio

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Seeking to adequately prepare potential patients or friends and family of patients, April 14, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Before the Scalpel: What Everyone Should Know About Anesthesia (Perfect Paperback)

Surgery is no laughing matter. "Before the Scalpel: What Everyone Should Know About Anesthesia" is an informative reference on the absolutely vital knowledge one must have before facing any type of surgery involving anesthesia, which is used in most types of serious surgery, from delivering children to plastic surgery to dental work. Seeking to adequately prepare potential patients or friends and family of patients, "Before the Scalpel" should strongly be considered.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Factual, practical, calming information, March 13, 2009

By 

Rebecca Nielsen (Virginia Beach, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Before the Scalpel: What Everyone Should Know About Anesthesia (Perfect Paperback)

Since reading this book, I have had surgery twice and my daughter and niece each had surgery once. Since we are usually very healthy, this could have been quite traumatic. Anesthesia was my main concern, but Dr. Dhar's book answered all my questions, leaving me calm and able to sleep peacefully through my own surgery and wait with less anxiety through my daughter's surgery. I highly recommend this book for anyone contemplating surgery.