Surgical Recall (Recall Series) [Paperback]

Lorne H. Blackbourne MD FACS (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 26, 2005 | ISBN-10: 0781786088 | ISBN-13: 978-0781786089 | Edition: Fourth

This reference for third and fourth year medical students on surgical clerkships enables quick study and easy access in a rapid-fire Q&A format. A double-column layout is featured with bookmark provided to cover the right side pages' answers while looking at the left side pages' questions. A perfect fit for a lab coat pocket, this book is commonly used as a quick review prior to surgical rounds as well as an easily carried tool for board review. This new Fourth Edition is completely updated and includes three new chapters, plus new mnemonics, new classic x-rays, and 60 new drawings.

Product Details

• Paperback: 800 pages
• Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Fourth edition (May 26, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0781786088
• ISBN-13: 978-0781786089
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 4.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #624,581 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pimpin' ain't easy..., July 28, 2006

By 

46&2 (California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Surgical Recall (Recall Series) (Paperback)

But Surgical Recall makes it easier. Basically, people get Recall for two reasons: 1) they're not interested in surgery but have to rotate and do well in it or 2) they're genuinely interested in surgery.

For med students just needing to get by, this partly meets your needs. This is not a text. The short Q&A format does not lend itself to thorough reading, it does not necessarliy flow, and it's not always easy to correlate concepts. It's good for reading before an operation for when the surgeon asks you questions ('pimping'). It's effective for a cram session before an exam/quiz as it addresses common issues. Reading Recall straight through, however, is not easy due to the format and length (800 pages). If you like flash-card style presentations, then Recall is great. If you don't, consider First Aid for Surgery, Surgery Secrets, or Lawrence's Essentials (I personally can't stand Lawrence).

For those looking into surgery, this book represents the fundamentals you NEED to know cold. The Q&A format basically simulates an attending or chief quizzing you during rounds or conference. The max amount of potassium you can give through a central line? It's not a thrilling concept, but it's something you'll ask yourself as an intern, and if you don't, a higher level will do it for you. This book has saved my butt a number of times on a surgery rotation. Aside from the essentials of preop and postop care, Recall also has specific questions you might have during an operation. Once again, these are high yield. The keys to performing a cholecystectomy are dead on (*be warned, their definition of the cystic triangle is a little goofy- personally was burned on that). There's also a few pictures going over basic anatomy. This is also one of the few books aimed at students which goes over surgical instruments and technique.

Overall, a great buy if you're into surgery, but a questionable purchase if you don't like the format and aren't interested in surgery.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for the wards and the NBME shelf, September 8, 2006

By 

Jarrod D. Knudson "mudphud" (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Surgical Recall (Recall Series) (Paperback)

This is a must have during surgery clerkships. It's broken down into concise chapters that can quickly be reviewed (5-10 minutes) before a case or a conference. For example, we had a right hepatic lobectomy case on a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma. I spent about 20 minutes in the physicians locker room reviewing the liver chapters before the case. In surgery, I was easily able to answer nearly all questions from the staff surgeon and the chief resident. Most pimp questions can be found in this book. This book definitely gives you an edge on the clerkship. It provides fast access to many pertinent concepts that you'll need day in and day out on the wards, in the SICU and in the OR. Many pocket textbooks are just dead weight in your coat. This one is actually very useful.

Also, recall is a good resource for studying for the Surgery Shelf exam. Much of the exam is medicine, not surgery. As a result, the basic reveiew of physiologic and IM concepts in recall were helpful in preparation for the shelf exam.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get this and read it and you will honor, October 31, 2007

By 

F. Mo - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Surgical Recall (Recall Series) (Paperback)

Everyone talks about this book and the information in it is great and very relevant. Keep reading it and you'll do well on your shelfs, on the wards and whatever else. I used this as a third year and I just kept reading it until I had it almost memorized. The chiefs on my rotations were surprised the stuff I used to know from this book. By the way I got the advanced one too and not nearly as helpful as this one.