Therapy of Digestive Disorders: A Companion to Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease [Hardcover]

M. Michael Wolfe MD (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0721673406 | ISBN-13: 978-0721673400

New edition publishing November 2005.

Editorial Reviews

From The New England Journal of Medicine

When I received this 882-page textbook, I was intrigued by the subtitle: "A Companion to Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease." Should we consider this book, with its six renowned section editors, a partner of the established textbook of gastroenterology, which consists of two volumes and more than 2000 pages? The two books are from the same publisher. Do we really need three volumes with a total of 3000 pages to cover the field of gastroenterology? How could the classic textbook Sleisenger and Fordtran's be successfully supplemented? The preface to the companion does not really answer my questions. The editor states that the main goal of the book is to provide practitioners with an authoritative and evidence-based, yet practical approach to the optimal management of digestive disorders, with up-to-date references. This prompted me to do some parallel reading of corresponding chapters in the sixth edition of Sleisenger and Fordtran's, published in 1998 and edited by Mark Feldman et al.

I selected chapters in Wolfe's textbook that discuss rather complex therapeutic topics and novel approaches to particular diseases. These chapters are mainly in the sections on gastroduodenal, hepatic, and intestinal disorders. The textbook also has sections on esophageal, pancreaticobiliary, and miscellaneous disorders. I started with the chapter on prophylaxis against and treatment of viral hepatitis. It contains a wealth of references, with articles published as recently as 1999, and up-to-date information (e.g., a discussion of combination therapy with interferon and ribavirin for hepatitis C virus infection). Similarly, in the discussion of hepatocellular carcinoma, the reader learns about established and novel therapeutic approaches, including cryotherapy and radio-frequency hyperthermia. But for nonspecialists, particularly practicing physicians, there is no algorithm or clear-cut summary in the chapter on hepatocellular carcinoma, as there is in the corresponding chapter in Sleisenger and Fordtran's. An excellent example of such information in Wolfe's textbook is the splendid discussion of portal hypertension. It combines detailed, up-to-date information with short, practical summaries of how to proceed in the three clinically relevant situations: treatment of acute variceal bleeding, prevention of rebleeding, and primary prophylaxis against bleeding.

In the chapter on the hepatorenal syndrome, I could not find the definition of the syndrome that was established by an international consensus conference in 1996, nor could I find references to articles on vasoconstrictor therapy that were more recent than 1989. Recent reports on this treatment are important, because the administration of vasoconstrictors, such as vasopressin analogues, combined with antagonists of endogenous vasodilators, such as somatostatin, is increasingly being investigated as an alternative to liver transplantation. These issues are covered in the corresponding chapter in Sleisenger and Fordtran's.

In the chapter on the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection, there is very detailed information on numerous therapeutic trials, which might have been summarized in a more straightforward way, with an emphasis on how and when to treat the infection. There is a good discussion of duodenal ulcer, but again, the practicing physician interested in practical advice on how to treat a patient with refractory ulcer might be disappointed not to find clear-cut recommendations. I greatly enjoyed the splendid chapter on the treatment and prevention of gastrointestinal disorders related to the use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. It contains references to the most recent literature and provides ample information about new therapeutic strategies, including the use of highly selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors. The chapter on the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases also provides valuable information, suggesting practical approaches to various clinical situations, such as left-sided, extensive, or fulminant colitis. This chapter also summarizes the clinical results of treatment with the first biologic agent approved for Crohn's disease, a monoclonal antibody targeting tumor necrosis factor (alpha).

With almost 100 authors and 68 chapters, this textbook provides useful information on the treatment of digestive disorders, citations of the relevant literature, and coverage of controversial issues. General physicians and also those with a particular interest in gastroenterology and hepatology will find the book helpful. My recommendation is to ignore the subtitle. Instead of being viewed as a companion to the excellent Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, this book could be considered a less voluminous and less expensive alternative for readers interested mainly in the treatment of digestive disorders.

Alexander L. Gerbes, M.D.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 882 pages
• Publisher: Saunders (January 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0721673406
• ISBN-13: 978-0721673400
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.7 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.3 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,915,069 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)