Editor: Marvin L. Corman, MD. Associate Editors: Roberto C.M. Bergamaschi, MD, R. John Nicholls, MD, and Victor W. Fazio, MD
Publisher: Wolters Kluwer | Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins – 1564 pages
Book Review by: Nano Khilnani
This is a comprehensive book on the various surgical procedures (including up-to-date techniques) involving the colon, rectum, and anus. It also covers the anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology relating to these and other portions of the gastrointestinal tract. It deals with the diagnosis, detection, treatment, and prognosis of diseases, conditions, and disorders of organs and other anatomical areas that are within the usual purview of colorectal surgeons and digestive disease specialists.
This book also provides visual step-by-step depictions of procedures such as for example, colostomy, colotomy, ileostomy, polypectomy, pouching systems, proctotomy, resection, and removal. You will also find diagnostic techniques used in colonoscopy, endoscopy, intubation, sigmodoscopy, and other forms of discovery, fact-finding, examination, and analysis.
The current (sixth) edition of this widely-used text was released in 2013 and carries a lot of updates of material. The first edition of this book was published about a quarter century ago and it has since become recognized in medical circle as the “bible” in colorectal surgery, as well as a “gold standard reference source.”
As in most areas of medicine, advances occur, which warrant updated editions that carry the results of research and new discoveries. Such advances enable authors and editors to clarify, correct, and even recant previous written statements.
As Dr. Corman writes in his Preface: “I am doomed to living with my previous inaccuracies. Still, it is better to recant than to be accused of having a pertinacious little mind.”
About 40 contributors, mostly from the United States, but also from Australia and United Kingdom, authored the 34 chapters of this book, which we name below in order to give you a complete overview of its contents:
- Anatomy and Embryology of the Anus, Rectum and Colon
- Physiology of the Colon
- Pediatric Surgical Problems
- Diet and Drugs in Colorectal Surgery
- Evaluation and Diagnostic Techniques
- Flexible Sigmodoscopy and Colonoscopy
- Setting Up a Colorectal Physiology Laboratory
- Analgesia in Colon and Rectal Surgery
- Cutaneous Conditions
- Colorectal Manifestations of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV Infection)
- Hemorrhoids
- Anal Fissure
- Anorectal Abcess
- Anal Fistula
- Rectovaginal and Rectourethral Fistula
- Fecal Incontinence
- Colorectal Trauma
- Management of Foreign Bodies
- Laparoscopic Colon and Rectal Surgery
- Constipation, Disorders of Defecation, and Anal Pain
- Rectal Prolapse (Internal and External), Solitary Rectal Ulcer, Descending Perineum Syndrome, and Rectocele
- Colorectal Polyps
- Carcinoma of the Colon
- Carcinoma of the Rectum
- Malignant Tumors of the Anal Canal
- Less Common Tumors and Tumor-like Lesions of the Colon, Rectum, and Anus
- Diverticular Disease
- Vascular Diseases: Hemorrhage, Mesenteric Occlusive and Non-occlusive Disease, Ischemia, Radiation Enteritis, and Volvulus
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Crohn’s Disease and Indeterminate Colitis
- Intestinal Stomas
- Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing
- Miscellaneous Colitides
- Medico-legal Aspects of Colon and Rectal Surgery
This text comes with access to the complete contents online, fully searchable, plus other valuable features. To register and gain access to those contents online, take these three simple steps:
- Visit http://solution.lww.com
- Enter your access code found on the inside front cover of your copy of this textbook
- Follow the instructions to activate your access.
For technical assistance, email [email protected] or call 1-800-468-1128 if you are in the United States or 1-410-528-4000 outside the U.S.
Among the features that are new to this current edition are:
- A full-color interior design that includes unique, detailed art depicting the steps in today’s operative procedures
- Comprehensive coverage of the latest laparoscopic diagnostic and surgical management techniques in all areas of the specialty
- A companion website that includes the fully searchable text.
An immense number of graphics of different types accompany, or perhaps we may say, literally surround the writing in this book. You will find black-and-white and color photos of different parts of the gastrointestinal tract showing different conditions and disorders, detailed fine-line drawings and rough sketches, micrographs depicting abnormalities and diseases such as carcinomas, colitis, infections, polyps, tumors, ulcers, and much more throughout this massive volume.
Various devices, instruments, machines, scopes and tools used in different diagnostic, measurement, and surgical procedures are also shown in this book.
An interesting feature found in this book and rarely seen in other medical texts are brief profiles (with photos) of renowned physicians and surgeons throughout history. These interesting write-ups provide the highlights of their achievements in the advancement of medicine.
All in all, an excellent book on colorectal surgery, thanks to the authors and especially the editors named below, especially Dr. Marvin Corman who provided the all-important guiding hand to make finished product highly valuable because it is comprehensive, contemporary, and colorful.
Editors:
Marvin L. Corman, MD, FASCRS, FACS is Professor of Surgery in the Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery at Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, New York.
Associate Editors:
Roberto C. M. Bergamaschi, MD, PhD, FRCS, FASCRS, FACS is Professor and Chief of the Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery at Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, New York.
R. John Nicholls, MD is Professor of Colorectal Surgery at Imperial College, London, and Emeritus Consultant Surgeon at St. Mark’s Hospital in London, United Kingdom.
Victor W. Fazio, AO, MB, BS, MD, FRACS holds the Rupert B. Turnbull, Jr., MD Chair. He is Chairman of the Digestive Disease Institute (Emeritus) at Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio.
