Reviews:
Good detail on post-operative complications and their management By Andrew H. Kaye (3rd Year Medical Student, Leicester University), 11 January 2010
Possibly one of the most complex and involved specialities within Medicine for student‘s and doctors alike, neuroscience books can sometimes reflect this with double-dutch language and be guilty of extreme over-complication. The authors of this book do not aim to produce a complete text on the field of neurosurgery, but to compile a text that generalises techniques used across the world in easily navigated chapters; including tumours, head injuries, stroke and developmental abnormalities; while providing reasonably comprehensive information on various aspects of the patient journey. These include the clinical presentation with an excellent explanation of why the relevant clinical signs occur, combined with key investigations, and then finally a brief outline of the surgical procedure and its features.
But despite every excellent concise point for each presentation, I think the greatest positive of this book is its detail on post-operative complications and their management – never before have I found a book in neurology that seems to contain everything you may need to know without having to trawl through millions of pages to achieve this. After reading you immediately feel so much more assured and confident in how you might manage such a patient in the future.
The layout of the book could be improved by shying away from its journal style columns and clearer subheadings, but the uncomplicated text makes this a minor point. Diagrams (although fewer than you might expect) are well placed and exceptional in aiding anatomical understanding whether you are a budding neurosurgeon or keen to improve your knowledge for exams/wards.
Although it is unlikely it will be one of your first choices to put on the bookshelf, I strongly advise a quick read if you ever need to get to grips with the management of a neurosurgical or neurology patient.
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