Editors: Frank W. Sellke, MD; Pedro J. del Nido, MD; and Scott J. Swanson, MD
Publisher: Elsevier – 2,496 pages
Book Review by: Nano Khilnani
The chest or thorax is a large section of the upper part of the human anatomy. It is one of the main components of this upper part of our bodies, the others being the head and the abdomen. Located between the neck and the abdomen as a matter of fact, the thorax includes the thoracic wall and the thoracic cavity.
The main organs in the thorax are the heart (and surrounding arteries, veins, and nerves), the lungs, the thymus gland, pectoral muscles, the diaphragm, esophagus, trachea, and a part of the sternum known as the xiphoid process. The thorax also includes the contents of the thoracic abdomen which include the stomach, kidneys, pancreas, and spleen. Bones that are part of the thoracic region are: the upper part of the humerus, the scapula, sternum or rib cage, floating ribs, the thoracic portion of the spine, and the collarbone.
Specialists numbering 286, in various areas in or relating to, cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, as well as anesthesiology, diagnostic imaging, gastroenterology, general surgery, oncology, pediatrics, and pulmonology, from the United States and nine other countries – Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Italy Japan, Spain, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom – wrote the 134 chapters of this book. The content contributors also include the three editors named above who authored some of the chapters.
The material in this massive two-volume compendium of nearly 2,500 pages is contained in 134 chapters. The chapters are allocated into 23 Parts, and the Parts are in turn contained within three Sections, and two Volumes. In order not to create an extremely lengthy overview of the contents of this massive work, we are providing below for your benefit an outline containing only the titles of the 23 Parts, which are contained in three Sections within the two Volumes:
- Volume I
- Section 1: Thoracic Surgery
- Part A: Evaluation and Care
- Part B: Endoscopy
- Part C: Trauma
- Part D: Trachea
- Part E: Benign Lung Disease
- Part F: Lung Cancer
- Part G: Other Lung Malignancy
- Part H: Chest Wall
- Part I: Pleura
- Part J: Diaphragm
- Part K: Esophagus – Benign Disease
- Part L: Esophagus – Cancer
- Part M: Mediastinum
- Part N; The Future
- Section 2: Adult Cardiac Surgery
- Part A: Basic Science
- Part B: Diagnostic Procedures
- Part C: Medical- and Catheter-Based Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease
- Part D: Perioperative and Intraoperative Care of the Cardiac Surgical Patient
- Volume II
- Part E: Surgical Management of Aortic Disease
- Part F: Surgical Management of Valvular Heart Disease
- Part G: Management of Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Part H: Surgical Management of Coronary Artery Disease and Its Complications
- Part I: Surgical Management of Heart Failure
- Section 3: Congenital Heart Surgery
The coverage of this book is not just extensive as demonstrated above by various chapters on the myriad components of the thorax or chest, but also quite intensive, which you will discover when you delve deep into the subjects and topics (ailments, conditions, diseases, disorders, etc.) covered in the 134 chapters.
If all of this seems overwhelming to you, we have some good news. For your benefit, all the contents of this printed book as outlined above can be viewed online by the purchaser. You can activate the eBook version of this title at no extra charge, and view it on the screen of almost any Internet-enabled device at anytime and anywhere.
Expert Consult eBooks give you the power to browse and find content, view enhanced images, and share notes and highlights – both online and offline.
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- Scratch off the code on the inside front cover your book
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You will really find it a delight when you browse through this book for the first time. Just start by looking at the very first chapter itself, entitled Anatomy of the Thorax, which gets you started correctly in your study (or review) of what exactly are the dimensions of this area of our bodies and what are included or not included in this region.
Here are the principal elements of the chapter, which are found in other chapters as well:
- Chapter Outline: a highlighted box at the top of each chapter containing an outline of subjects covered in the chapter.
The covered topics are: Thoracic Cage, with four subtopics; Muscles of the Thorax, with two subtopics; Surface Anatomy; Mediastinum; Tracheobronchial Tree; Lungs, Esophagus, Vessels of the Thorax, with four subtopics; and Nerves of the Thorax, with two subtopics.
- Tables: with a lot of important data arranged in easily-digestible form for easy retention
- Excellent Full-Color, Fine-Line Drawings: with marked anatomical parts
- Charts: with clear illustrations, making it easy to understand the information laid out
- Suggested Readings: with a large number and wide range of materials to read
For this book, you can get even more valuable information online from another useful allied website – www.ClinicalKey.com, whose aim is to provide smarter, faster, and better patient care.
This search engine of Elsevier Saunders is specially designed for doctors by providing them three core components:
- Comprehensive Content – the most current, evidence-based answers available for every medical and surgical specialty.
- Trusted Answers – content supplied by Elsevier, the world’s leading provider of health and science information.
- Unrivaled Speed to Answer – faster, more relevant clinical answers, so you can spend less time searching and more time caring for your patients.
This is clearly one of the seminal textbooks on the chest, particularly surgery of the chest. It is very authoritative, possibly the best, and a very comprehensive volume on the subject. There you have it: truly a must-have book: the abc of success!
Editors:
Frank W. Sellke, MD is the Karl and Gloria Karlson Professor, and Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital, and Director of Lifespan Cardiovascular Institute in Providence, Rhode Island
Pedro J. del Nido, MD is the William E. Ladd Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School, and Chairman of the Department of Cardiac Surgery at Boston Children’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.
Scott J. Swanson, MD is Director of Minimally-Invasive Thoracic Surgery and Vice Chair of Cancer Affairs in the Department of Surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He is also Chief Surgical Officer at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts.
