Preoperative Assessment and Management

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This book provides the health care professional with a concise and substantive guide to understanding various medical conditions and other issues that warrant careful consideration and subsequent management in the patient who will undergo surgery. The target audience for this handbook is the anesthesiologist, certified nurse anesthetist, nurse practitioner, and perioperative nurse. This book is technical in nature, so it will be helpful for the reader to be a clinician with a solid understanding of pathophysiology, physical assessment, pharmacotherapeutics, and diagnostic and laboratory testing.

The editor and various contributors to the book are clearly skilled practitioners who are experts in the areas of anesthesia and critical care medicine. The newest edition of this text benefits the reader by summarizing current research. New guidelines and recommendations also are included in this edition. Some of the main topics covered in the book include

The most noteworthy aspect of this handbook is the prevailing theme of preoperative risk reduction and effective control of medical conditions, which are relevant to the administration of anesthesia and the overall surgical encounter. The chapters contain pertinent information about common medical problems, including an overview of the pathophysiology involved, considerations relative to performing the history and physical examination, key diagnostic and laboratory tests, and pharmacological interventions. Additionally, the reader will likely benefit from the various tables and flowcharts, which help to illustrate and organize technical concepts and algorithms. The small size of the book makes it portable and easy to reference. The only drawback to the text is the small print, but it is a minor inconvenience.

It should be noted that this book is a guide. The text is not exhaustive and does not cover every facet of evaluating and managing the presurgical patient; however, it does provide a solid base from which the clinician can assess commons risks and subsequently provide quality care directed toward reducing risk factors and improving outcomes. Moreover, case studies in the book aid the reader in applying knowledge and evaluating his or her understanding of key topics. Preoperative Assessment and Management is well written and would make an excellent resource for the health care professional who is directly responsible for evaluating and caring for the patient who is scheduled for surgery.