Every so often, a book comes along that is a 'must have’ for trainees, and this book by authors from the Princess Margaret Hospital for Children in Perth, Australia, is exactly that and more. Pediatric Anesthesia March 2012, v22 page 297 More info: http://www.mcgraw-hill.com.au/html/9780071000222.html

1. Pediatric Anesthesia ISSN 1155-5645
BOOK REVIEW
Your Guide to Paediatric Anaesthesia
Edited by Craig Sims & Chris Johnson McGraw Hill
Medical Australia, 2011 ISBN-10 007100022-4
Every so often, a book comes along that is a ‘must- and managing the pediatric airway. The scientific basis
have’ for trainees, and this book by authors from the of practice is beautifully covered in chapters on phar-
Princess Margaret Hospital for Children in Perth, Aus- macology, fluid therapy, and equipment. Resuscitation,
tralia, is exactly that and more. This book is so practi- acute pain management, and regional anesthesia are
cally oriented with sensible, safe advice based on a core topics and concisely covered. The implications for
mass of clinical experience that it is an ideal primer for the anesthetist of respiratory diseases, chronic child-
anesthetic trainees about to embark on a pediatric hood illnesses, and congenital syndromes are summa-
attachment but has enough detail to act as a revision rized with good references to further reading for more
text for exams. It could also be a useful refresher for detail. Nice chapters on anesthesia for neonatal and
established senior staff and in particular those who pediatric general surgery are followed by the specialties
have a mixed pediatric and adult practice or who are and systems. I particularly liked that the common sce-
occasionally called upon to look after children. I think narios are well covered and given prominence, for
our operating theater and recovery room staff could example removal of airway foreign body. Critical ill-
also use this book to gain a better understanding of ness and management of the severely ill and injured
what is involved in our specialty. In particular, anes- child are summarized well. I was particularly pleased
thetic nurses and operating department practitioners to see a chapter on procedural sedation and also
would find this book really useful. sensible advice regarding the anesthetist’s role in child
So what is so great about it? First, it is very clearly protection.
and consistently laid out with loads of summary tables, So I think this book will gain a well-deserved popu-
highlighted key points, and practical tips and illus- larity among trainees and other staff and also among
trated with simple, effective graphics. In accord with senior staff for Continuing Professional Development
modern learning theory, you get an overview right at and as a revalidation refresher. Many will feel a twinge
the beginning, and the top 12 current issues in the field of jealousy: some will wish they had had such a book
are headlined. The reader is encouraged to regularly when they were embarking on their pediatric anesthe-
reflect on what they have read by working through sia careers while others (me included) will wish they
review questions, and the bibliographies for each chap- had written this book!!
ter are helpfully laid out as selected key reviews or
articles by subtopic. These are drawn from the world- Neil S. Morton
wide literature and are remarkably up to date. Further Department of Paediatric Anaesthesia,
reading is effectively directed by this approach. Refer- Royal Hospital for Sick Children,
ences are not cited in-text, and this helps the easy Glasgow G3 8SJ,
readability of the book. The content is excellent and Scotland, UK
well prioritised with coverage early on of the two main Email: neilmorton@mac.com
things that spook novices about children: understand-
ing their behavior at different developmental stages doi: 10.1111/j.1460-9592.2011.03779.x
ª 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd 297
Pediatric Anesthesia 22 (2012) 297