Laparoscopy in Children

From The Critics

Reviewer: Robert M Arensman, MD(University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine)
Description: This is a very basic, introductory book on the use of laparoscopy for common surgical problems of infants and children. The text appears only on the left hand pages while right hand pages contain line drawings or artist's renditions of the points contained in the text.
Purpose: The author indicates his purpose is to help his colleagues "profit from the experience of authors who have performed numerous laparoscopies in children of all sizes, many of them newborns." He hopes that the application of principles covered in this book will allow others to master laparoscopic techniques. These are laudable objectives, but probably unrealistic based on the simplicity of the book's presentation.
Audience: The author's intended audience is adult and pediatric surgeons. However, those who will find this book most helpful are students and interns who have little experience or familiarity with laparoscopy. For those groups this is a nice and wonderfully illustrated primer. Dr. Schier is a pediatric surgeon with the Department of Pediatric Surgery, Friedrich-Schiller-Universitat in Jena, Germany. He elicited contributions from two other well known pediatric surgeons, Dr. Georgeson of the United States and Dr. van der Zee of the Netherlands.
Features: This book opens with several chapters on supplies, patient preparation, treatment of rare but serious complications plus general considerations on techniques of ligation, needle insertion, suturing and adhesiolysis. As is the case throughout the book, simple, half-page text occurs to the left side. Equally simple, but well done drawings occur only on right hand pages, visually reinforcing the textual points. Consequently the book reads very quickly but can also be reviewed quickly and easily to restudy specific points. The remaining two-thirds of the book provide similar style text and drawings on eighteen common laparoscopic or thoracoscopic procedures in children. Most require only 3 - 6 pages, but a few are more extensive and run to 10 - 14 pages of text and illustrations. The index is short and rudimentary. There are no references after chapters or at the conclusion of the book.
Assessment: This is an attractive, introductory book on pediatric laparoscopy that will be welcomed by students and interns. It comes a little too late to be of great value to adult and pediatric surgeons who have been using and experimenting with these techniques over the past 10 years. There are more complete books on these techniques currently available with far more reference material. In addition, the price of this thin book is high based on the amount of material covered.

2 Stars from Doody