The Gale Encyclopedia of Surgery: A Guide for Patients and Caregivers 1

Pity those patients and caregivers who experience enough surgery first-or second-hand to have frequent need of this three-volume reference; but if going under the knife (or laser) is necessary, this reference helps with the details of 265 surgeries, providing enough information for readers who wish to be knowledgeable consumers without being overwhelmed. Descriptions of surgeries follow a clear format that includes discussion of the procedure's purpose and demographics and information about diagnosis and preparation, who performs the procedure and where, aftercare, risks, normal results, morbidity and mortality rates, and alternatives. Entries also include definitions of key terms, questions to ask the doctor, and listings of resources (books as well as organizations for support and further information). In addition to entries describing surgeries, another 200 entries cover relevant general topics such as anesthesia, second opinions, admission to the hospital, and preparation for surgery. A roster of medical writers and practitioners contributed to the work, which was prepared under the leadership of Anthony J. Senagore (Cleveland Clinic Foundation). Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR Written especially for patients and allied health care students by experts in the field, "The Gale Encyclopedia of Surgery provides in-depth coverage of approximately 450 surgical procedures and related topics, such as anesthetics, medications and postoperative care. Entries for surgical procedures follow a consistent format, covering definition; purpose; demographic information; diagnosis/preparation; aftercare; risks; morbidity and mortality rates; alternatives; and more. Additional features include 175 full-color illustrations and photographs; bibliographies of further reading sources; a glossary of medical terminology; appendices listing top centers for specific surgical procedures and national organizations and support groups for patients; and a comprehensive index. At some point this order got confused and the wrong information was sent to the vendor for shipping. Once I was aware of it I contacted the shipper, before the book they shipped arrived. They checked into the matter, and had issued me a full credit, again before the bool arrived. A wonderful vendor, who is now on my list to look for when ordering Contains 465 alphabetically arranged entries that provide step-by-step procedures for over two hundred specific surgeries, as well as information on diagnostic tests, medications, and related topics, and includes a glossary of terms, and other reference material v. 1. A-F v. 2. G-O v. 3. P-Z.