Customer Reviews

Yao and Artusio's Anesthesiology: Problem-Oriented Patient Management

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Yao and Artusio's sixth edition is a valuable, clinically oriented reference. The 2008 version of this venerable book continues a tradition of excellence, while updating and adding new information. I recommend it to all practitioners of anesthesia.

The chapter list has a few changes, but remains similar to past editions. The format of case presentations, questions and answers has not changed since I was a resident in the late 80's. The editors have imposed a uniform chapter template upon all 77 authors, perhaps through the liberal use of whips and chains. There are an increasing number of experts from outside institutions, but this is largely a product of Cornell University and the New York City gas-passers. Among a host of new authors, there are many familiar names from prior editions. This is not a bad thing: the scholarship and writing are excellent. I remember that some of my professors used to look down their noses at this book, opining that it was not sufficiently academic. Nevertheless, the good clinicians on the faculty endorsed it wholeheartedly.

There are some small details that missed the editors' scrutiny. Some of the older chapters haven't been completely updated. Dr. Yao refers to a 1991 study as "recently reported." He still asks that question about the effects of cimetidine on asthma, and on aminophylline levels. A hypertensive patient is on propranolol and captopril. I don't know if those drugs are in everyday use elsewhere, but it was a trip down memory lane for me!

The references cited are often other textbooks, not original articles. This is in keeping with the practical nature of the book. When you are under the gun you want the facts, not a lot of theory. No need to refer to Anesthesiology's collection of exotica, which is often as relevant to my practice as the adventures of the Mars Rovers.

Compared to the 5th edition, the new volume is heftier, with 120 additional pages. The editors have maintained the 9 by 7 inch size, which is easier to carry and read than a full size text. It is too heavy for a portable quick reference, however.

This book is not inherently fascinating. I would not read it for pleasure. It contains lists of differential diagnoses, classifications, and predictors. Important stuff, but not easy to read. Yet it is a very useful reference. I think it is essential for preparation for the oral boards (I disagree with another reviewer who considers it too detailed for oral board review), or as a review for an upcoming case. I also use it to outline some of my lectures for residents. It combines a decent scientific foundation with a real life practicality, a practicality which is sorely missing from many anesthesia texts.

Finally the book that I have been waiting for. Two years after graduation for CRNA school I have been looking for a book to sort of "light my fire" again and Yao and Artusio's did it. Not only is this book filled with a great amount of knowledge, but also it is an inspiration to those of us who want to excel in anesthesia beyond the banality of induction and wake-ups. In the workforce, we as anesthesia providers, can become repetitive doers based on what work for us on a daily basis, but this book provides the key reasoning about why doing this versus doing that. The reading flows very well and after each chapter you are filled with a knowledge wandering how come no one explained it to you like that before. This book is a most for the serious anesthesia provider who wants to excel.

Favorite book to read as far as textbooks go. Multiple extensive scenarios with short explanations that get right to the point and cite other important anesthesia books (Barash, Chestnut, Stoelting) so you can find where the info is from. Good conglomeration of all aspects of anesthesia cases.

these are the oral board *questions*. these are not (IMHO) the best *answers* for the examiners. but who cares? for publishing the questions on the oral boards they deserve twice the money. how do they get away with it? i mean, the questions are not supposed to be reproduced anywhere i thought. this is my suggestion. write down all the questions in the book. then look up the answers yourself and ask your professors what they think. but when you take the oral boards if you start spouting
yao and artusio answers straight out of the book at the testers i think it will cause you some trouble. if medicine is an art, then anesthesia oral board tests are abstract art. it is all interpretation.

Excelent book, practical and objective. Each chapter has a case and questions and answers about it.

Some questions and answers are good for the Anesthesia Board Exam, but some are not relevant.