Sixth edition. Seymour I. Schwartz, G. Tom Shires, Frank C. Spencer, and Wendy Cowles Husser; eds. 2074 pages. New York: McGraw-Hill Inc.; 1994. $99.00.
Since it was first published in 1969, Principles of Surgery has been a standard text and reference source for students, residents in surgery, and many practicing surgeons. The sixth edition has been extensively revised in an effort to encompass the flood of new scientific knowledge and technical advances in surgery. Twenty of the 44 chapters have been rewritten by new authors, and almost all of the chapters have been updated. Most of the 89 authors are experienced and recognized authorities in their fields. Of the four major textbooks on surgery currently available, this is now the most up-to-date.
The strength of the book is its presentation. The first of its two major subdivisions consists of 12 chapters that deal with the basic sciences in relation to clinical practice. For example, the chapter on wound care and wound healing discusses the role of cytokines; molecular biology and oncogenes are concisely summarized in the chapter on oncology; and the chapter on surgical infections provides updated information about surgery in persons with human immunodeficiency virus infection. The second section presents chapters on specific organ systems and surgical specialties. Each chapter begins with a brief description of anatomy and flows logically through physiologic bases for disease, clinical manifestations, diagnostic studies, and therapy. The charts and tables are clear and appropriate. A manageable, updated reference list follows each chapter. Although this is not an atlas of surgery, the illustrations of surgical techniques are sufficient, practical, and informative. The role of minimally invasive surgery has been addressed where applicable. However, like most texts, this book also lags behind the "cutting edge" of available techniques; for example, laparoscopic common duct exploration is not mentioned.
Although I have difficulty finding any weakness in this superbly edited book, additional chapters would be valuable. The chapter on anesthesia, included in previous editions, has been deleted from this one. Second, a chapter on the history of surgery would place present knowledge in perspective.
I have found this book extremely useful for teaching purposes; it goes a long way toward fulfilling its dedication "to students of surgery, at all levels, in their quest for knowledge." It is a "must" for institutional and departmental libraries and for all residents in surgery.
Article
