Acute Catabolic State

From The Critics

Reviewer: David J. Dries, MD(University of Minnesota Medical School)
Description: This is the first edition of a hardbound monograph describing the acute catabolic response to injury and infection.
Purpose: The acute catabolic response to injury and infection is described as the focus of this work. This metabolic picture is noted in a variety of stress states caused by surgical and nonsurgical problems. A monograph focused on this common phenomenon is a worthwhile endeavor.
Audience: Senior trainees, researchers, and practitioners are an appropriate audience for this work. The authors represent a variety of European and American institutions. All have exposure to work involving the catabolic response to stress.
Features: Approximately 25 chapters are included in this 300-page monograph. Initial chapters provide an overview of the catabolic response. Next are specific organ system responses as presently understood. Concluding is a series of essays describing present therapy as available for blunting the catabolic response. Title and chapter authors are listed in a simple table of contents. A three-page subject index reviews the content of this monograph. Chapters are succinct and adequately referenced. References date to within three years of publication. Black-and-white illustrations are infrequent but effective when available. Occasional typographical errors are noted.
Assessment: Catabolism is central to the response to stress from most any source. This monograph undertakes the worthy task of assembling our incomplete knowledge in this key area and is thus an important contribution. Some of the chapters are written by central workers in this area. Many, however, appear to be invited reviews possibly beyond the immediate expertise of the author. Overall, this is a worthy overview of an important and misunderstood aspect of injury.

David J. Dries

This is the first edition of a hardbound monograph describing the acute catabolic response to injury and infection. The acute catabolic response to injury and infection is described as the focus of this work. This metabolic picture is noted in a variety of stress states caused by surgical and nonsurgical problems. A monograph focused on this common phenomenon is a worthwhile endeavor. Senior trainees, researchers, and practitioners are an appropriate audience for this work. The authors represent a variety of European and American institutions. All have exposure to work involving the catabolic response to stress. Approximately 25 chapters are included in this 300-page monograph. Initial chapters provide an overview of the catabolic response. Next are specific organ system responses as presently understood. Concluding is a series of essays describing present therapy as available for blunting the catabolic response. Title and chapter authors are listed in a simple table of contents. A three-page subject index reviews the content of this monograph. Chapters are succinct and adequately referenced. References date to within three years of publication. Black-and-white illustrations are infrequent but effective when available. Occasional typographical errors are noted. Catabolism is central to the response to stress from most any source. This monograph undertakes the worthy task of assembling our incomplete knowledge in this key area and is thus an important contribution. Some of the chapters are written by central workers in this area. Many, however, appear to be invited reviews possibly beyond the immediate expertise of the author. Overall, this is a worthy overview of animportant and misunderstood aspect of injury.

2 Stars from Doody