BOOK REVIEWS
BOOK REVIEWS
TROPICAL
SURGERY
Editors:
Refaat
Kamel
and John
S.P.
Lumley
(with
over
200
contributors)
Publisher:
Westminster
Publishing
Ltd.
(2004)
This 1,500 page publication, with 250 articles and commentaries, with colored illustrations, and written by 230 distinguished contributors is an important textbook and addition to the medical profession. During their worldwide traveling as presidents of the International College of Surgeons, the editors became aware of the need for a unique textbook focusing on tropical surgery. They have brought together a team of surgeons and other experts in the management of tropical diseases. The text is an encyclopedia of tropical diseases as they relate to surgeons, and provides an excellent and essential companion for all those working in, or managing patients from tropical areas. While in the past, it was assumed that knowledge of tropical medicine was required only in the tropics, today's travel and migration patterns have made it essential for every medical practitioner everywhere to know.
Professor Kamel, MD, FACS, FICS, is renowned for his work on the liver and spleen, with a life-long interest in the academic studies and research in the field of tropical surgery, whilst Professor Lumley, MS, FRCS, FICS, a distinguished vascular surgeon, is one of the most experienced medical editors in the world.
The
text is divided into six sections:
Section
one
is on the general features of tropical diseases, the principles of surgery in the
tropics followed by the history of tropical surgery in antiquity, pharaonic era,
India, and in warfare.
The
impact of the environment on tropical disease considers geographic features,
global informatics and urbanization, as well as national and man-made disasters,
such as road and other traffic accidents, air pollution, chemical and biological
warfare, together with resultant refugee migration and malnutrition. Surgical
intervention is considered from its application in an austere environment to the
more sophisticated levels of liver and cardiac transplantation, intensive care,
minimal access and robotic assisted surgery; attention is given to oncology,
stem cells, genetics and other developing fields. This section also considers
the use of telemedicine, integrated approaches, traditional Chinese medicine and
acupuncture.
Section two looks into specialized surgery in tropical disease and systematically considers the various regions and systems of the body: This section is completed with articles on plastic and orthopedic surgery.
Section three is on tropical surgical infections, considers specific infections encountered across tropical areas including kuru, CJD, viruses, hepatitis, dysentery, rabies, viral haemorraghic fevers, SARS and AIDS. Important microbiological diseases namely bacteria, spirochaetal, rickettsial and actinomycetes, fungal infections, protozoa and helminthes are widely covered. This chapter also includes interesting data about animal bites (morsology) such as shark, reptile and snake bites as well as marine toxins.
Section four considers investigation across the tropics in both austere and well equipped areas; laboratory and diagnostic, radiological features and the place of these studies in the differential diagnosis of common presenting symptoms and signs, such as renal, liver and cardiac failure, limb ischaemia, and masses of the neck, abdomen, axilla and groin.
Section five includes 50 case histories with specific messages that compliment and supplement the text.
Section six includes investigations, advice to travelers/immigrants, tables & lists hints, tips & pitfalls, conclusions & recommendation.
List of the Contributors
|
Abaza, Helmy |
El-Beih, Amira A. |
Kamal, Karim A. |
Reglagadda,
Adiskesava S. |
The preliminary cost of the book between £160 – 180, although a copy can be obtained at a prepublication price of £100, if purchased before Nov 1st
2003.
Prof. Refaat Kamel's email is rkamel2001@yahoo.com
and Prof. John SP Lumely's email is jsplumley@yahoo.co.uk
