Cope's Early Diagnosis of the Acute Abdomen [Paperback]

William Silen (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0195136799 | ISBN-13: 978-0195136791 | Publication Date: April 15, 2000 | Edition: 20

For the 20th edition of this classic text, Silen has expanded his discussion of the role of CT scans in diagnosing abdominal pain and cut the material on such obsolete procedures or nosologic entities as abdominal paracentesis, pyplyositis, and Bornholm's disease. The book continues to be the outstanding guide to the difficult task of diagnosing and deciding how to manage acute abdominal pain, where decisions must be made quickly and mistakes can kill patients. More generally, it remains the most venerable of all texts on the art and science of bedside diagnosis.

Editorial Reviews

Review

reviews from previous editions:

"This latest edition of the Cope-Silen text on the acute abdomen nicely closes out the 20th-century information base on this subject. Hopefully, the health care providers of the 21st century will continue to profit from the important updating of this classic monograph" The New England Journal of Medicine

"If only one book about surgery could be made available to physicians from all specialties, it should probably be Silen's recent revision of Cope's Early Diagnosis of the acute Abdomen. Since the book first appeared more than 30 years ago, it has remained the classic treatise on the initial approach to abdominal pain...It is important that this classic surgical education be updated periodically, for it is the single best short treatise on acute abdominal pain in print." The New England Journal of Medicine

"There is a lot of very useful information stuffed into these...pages, and very little has been left out....It succeeds because of its directness and practicality...The book is thorough, clear, concise, and has a defite point of view. It is a wonderful text for medical students and interns, especially primary care interns and residents who want a straightforward, clinically relevant resource...It would also make a useful review for practitioners who want to refresh their knowledge. This text should also be a must for emergency department physicians, and all family practice faculty who are confronted with ubiquitous questions from students and residents about patients with abdominal pain..." The Journal of Family Practice

"A model of simplicity, lucidity, and soundness and the language is a joy...Easy to read and full of good sense, the book is a distillation of the massive clinical experience of two master surgeons." Annals of Surgery

"Throughout its 26 concise chapters, Silen has taken great care to preserve the original prose of the early 20th century, making reading of this text enjoyable as well as instructive. This comprehensive work remains a medical classic and is recommended to medical students and residents seeking to achieve a solid foundation in the early diagnosis of acute abdominal pain. Most importantly, even the experienced clinician will be reminded of the importance of clinical acumen in assessing the acute abdomen and will be sure to find sections within this text that will influence his or her clinical practice." -- D. Brock Vair, MD, CJS, Vol 43, Mo 6, Dec 2000

About the Author

William Silen, Johnson and Johnson Distinguished Professor of Surgery, and Dean, Faculty Development and Diversity, Harvard Medical School.

Product Details

• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 20 edition (April 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195136799
• ISBN-13: 978-0195136791
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #824,158 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic medical book, required reading for all doctors., July 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Cope's Early Diagnosis of the Acute Abdomen (Paperback)

This book is an enduring classic on the diagnosis of abdominal conditions. It is a masterful exposition of differential diagnosis and physical examination. As the director of a residency program in obstetrics and gynecology, I have made it required reading for all of our residents. It is well-written, clear, concise, and full of practical wisdom. Anybody who sees patients should be familiar with this book.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Every aspiring surgeon should master this book, December 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Cope's Early Diagnosis of the Acute Abdomen (Hardcover)

An excellent and suprisingly readable book on surgery. Although it only discusses the abdomen, it serves as an excellent foundation for later reading in surgery. I enjoyed this book thoroughly. Very well written

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the first book to read on abdominal problems, July 3, 2003

By 

james f watkins (Sayre, PA, US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cope's Early Diagnosis of the Acute Abdomen (Paperback)

One of the most influential medical texts ever. Cope's work gets only more relevant with increasing fragmentation of care. I would argue the book is especially useful for those NOT planning a career in surgery. The work is concise, accurate, and filled with memorable language. If you spend half an hour on the appendicitis section you should be equipped to make the diagnosis correctly. Other sections are equally good, as Dr. Silen has the sense not to fix what is not broken.