Critical-Care Books

This book teaches you everything you need to know about EKG in a simple and concise manner. Chapters are fun to read, and each chapter contains problem sets that really reinforces what you have learned in that chapter. I definitely feel more confident reading an EKG now. Excellent book!!!

This book is the only one I have found that taught me the entire method of analyzing an EKG from start to finish. I have numerous EKG books and have never learned as much from them as I did with this interactive book. Excellent!!!!

The only EKG book, the best EKG book, and the simplest EKG book you will ever need. If you are having a hard time reading EKGs you won't once you finish this book!

Used a few books before this and while other books teach simple patterns; this is the only book that really goes through the trouble of actually "teaching ekgs". Step by step process and workbook ekgs make the whole process easy and pleasant. Perfect for the med student or other healthcare professional

This book reinforced and provided missing ECG information. It's organized very well, and each chapter builds cumulatively on the previous lessons. The worksheets at the end of each chapter are excellent.

Giroux follows his typical train of thought in this criticism of the role of securitized discourse and fear in shaping American domestic and foreign policy. This time he focuses on how culture (the media, etc.) affects the educational spheres of America, most specifically its effects on children and those involved in higher education.

Best for those who are familiar with the basic tenets of critical pedagogy, the nuances of security literature, and who share a more liberal political ideology.

This was a decent Smart Rant. I agree with Giroux so it made it an (mostly) enjoyable read. I would not recomend this book for anyone who is not already on board with a far left agenda. It will just be frustrating. It would be like me reading a book by Rush Limbaugh. Giroux's rant is full of tricky rhetoric that sits well with his allies, for the most part, but would be unbearable for his enemies.

I would say that if you are interested in learning more about the Far Left, don't read this book unless you don't mind weeding through rhetoric. If you are in Giroux's camp and are looking for somthing to get you angry and fearful enough to participate in forms of activism, this will be a good book for you. If you are an enemy of the Far Left and want something to sink your teeth into so you can tear it apart, this will be like shooting ducks in a barrel. You'll love how easy it is to get annoyed with his rhetoric.

For those of you who don't find yourself as any of these people-types, well, your on your own. Maybe one of the other reviews will help you out.

Henry Giroux writes with a level of compassion, insight, and clarity that informs, astonishes and inspires. In these times of despair, deceit, cynicism, and war, Giroux provides probing and thoughtful analysis, sobering and searing revelations, and, perhaps most importantly, always a sense of hope in and for humanity. His latest work "Abandoned Generation" should be required reading for teachers at all levels, and educators in all domains, as well as every citizen who cares about the future of our youth, the future of education, and the possibilities for a more meaningful, engaged, caring and participatory democracy.

Once again, Henry Giroux stands up to be counted. In his insightful analysis of post 9/11 America, Giroux is unafraid to
challenge the anti-democratic policies of the Bush Administration. He does NOT buy into the belief of the Bushies
that if you repeat the lies often enough, people will begin to
believe them. He rightly suggests that the policies and priorities of the "War on Terror" have had both a chilling effect on the public discourse regarding what it means to live in a democratic society as well as dramatic real-world effects on the lives of many less-fortunate Americans.
Further, he uses popular culture to demonstrate the pernicious
effects the ideology of entertainment can have on the public imagination. Giroux's call for investment in the future security of America by building human capital (via education, health care, and other social services) is one that is not heard often enough. Perhaps if we have enough brave souls like Giroux willing to stand up and state the truth again and again, the public will be better able to distinguish between the truth and the oft-repeated pronouncements of the Bush Administration.

Michael J. Ludwig, Hofstra University

In The Abandoned Generation, Giroux goes beyond asking those who are already in the same political camp to agree with his study. Giroux asks everyone to reflect on what has been central to America's beliefs about democracy, question those features in our current society that undermine those beliefs, and envision how we can build on the democratic legacy that made our country great in the first place. Unfortunately, all three of these objectives often require time, deliberation, and explanation beyond the 10-second soundbytes that we get as pre-regurgitated pablum on the daily news and thus might require someone, such as Giroux, to devote his/her time to engaging citizens in thoughts and sentence structures more complex (and interesting) than those we would find in a Jane and Dick book. Time, deliberation, and explanation are, indeed, difficult in our age of quick fixes, and using them is often traded for the ease with which we would rather lay blankets of blame on the most vulnerable parts of the population, as opposed to lifting the reactionary quilts that try to cover the causes of our crisis.

With theoretical rigor, practical examples, such as in the use of Hollywood movies, and a desire for a better world that is steeped in the democratic tradition of thinkers like Jefferson and Dewey, Giroux takes on issues ranging from the continued assault on public schools that is partially backed by Bush's No Child Left Behind testing/choice schemes and the incredibly shrinking democratic functions of higher education to the utter disregard for children and youth, in particular, and public life in general. Further, Giroux uses front-line insights from various fields of study, not just like-minded left-wingers, who are either heavy-handed, academic, or dogmatic. In the least, Giroux offers hope and a map with which we can begin to work ourselves out of the current crisis in our country, and he also demonstrates that it is important that "academics" take on public issues, and that by doing so, "academic" issues can be seen rightfully as matters of public concern and the vitality of our democracy. The Abandoned Generation is a must read for citizens concerned about the safety and well-being of the U.S.-and its children-in this time of economic turmoil and global crisis.

O'Collins, Professor of Systematic and Fundamental Theology at the Gregorian University in Rome, has written yet another timely book on this central aspect of our faith. As C.C. Newman writes on the back cover: "O'Collins has produced a Christological accounting that is breathtaking in scope...[He] successfully balances the academic search for truth with practical concerns for justice and equality, all the while preserving the center of liturgical celebration...this book is steeped in, though not encumbered by, a thorough knowledge of all the problematic epistemological and hermeneutical issues. Carefully and lucidly written...this is mature book from a seasoned scholar on an important subject."

Contents include: 1:Some Major Challenges 2:The Background 3:The Human History 4:The Resurrection 5:The Son of God 6:Lord, Savior, God, and Spirit 7:To the First Council of Constantinople 8:Ephesus, Chalcedon, and Beyond 9:Medieval and Modern Christology 10:Divine and Human 11:Faith, Holiness, and Virgin Conception 12:Redeemer 13:Universal Redeemer 14:The Possibilities of Presence Bibliography, Index of Names, Biblical Index.

I would suggest also reading The God of the Gospel of John by Thompson to get a clear picture on how the Christiolgy of the Church is faithful to the witness of Sripture and not a corruption of it owing to radical hellinization.
Other books of interest include: Trinity and Incarnation by Basil Studer, Incarnation-Myth or Fact? by Oskar Skarsaune, An Introduction to New Testament Christology by Raymond Brown, The Mystery of the Trinity by Boris Bobrinskoy, Trinitarian Theology East and West by Meyendorff and Fahey, The Gospel Image of Christ by Veselin Kesich. Enjoy!

Professor O'Collins offers us a clear presentation of one of the most central topics to an orthodox Christian faith - the diety and humanity of Christ. This systematic presentation is fairly easy to read and its presentation is understandable to clergy and layman alike.

The author attempts to answer fundemental christological questions such as: How could Jesus be totally man and totally God? How could he be sinless and yet exercise free human will? How can his role as universal savior be reconciled with other religions?

O'Collins takes us through the beliefs and arguments from the earliest Christians, the Councils of Constantinople, Ephesus and Chalcedon, the Middle Ages and present. Subjects include Christ's resurrection, virgin birth, sinless life, and his role as savior and redeemer.

Very well written and highly recommended.

Gerald O'Collins' impeccable scholarship presents the reader with a critical view of 2,000 years of thought regarding Jesus, and draws conclusions that are both fresh and orthodox. He is particularly talented in clarity of expression, and of explaining how ideas of various great theologians were useful or were misinterpreted in light of later historical developments.

I personally read this work as one of many studies in Christology, and anyone pursuing graduate study in theology knows how ideas can begin to all sound alike when the volume is high. Though I was new to Gerald O'Collins work, I found it so absorbing and stimulating (amazing, when one is wading through volumes) that it opened new doors of consideration in my own pursuit.

Though O'Collins's presentation of doctrine could not offend the Grand Inquisitor himself, this is no stale "fidelity to the magisterium" approach - the explanations are detailed, often including original insights, and refute any ideas which O'Collins sees as spoiling the integration of Christology and spirituality in the life of the Church. Whether it is Macquarrie, Schilebeecx, or Thomas Aquinas with whom he has a point of disagreement, the reasoning is excellent, and, whether one holds the same viewpoint or not, one can only greet the result with a certain degree of awe.

Fr. O'Collins has written a helpfull introduction to Christology for both the beginning theology student and the inquisitive Christian who is interested in delving into Christian belief from a variety of perspectives- Biblical, Catechetical, Historical, etc. The book is well written and full of quotes and references. O'Collins is able to inform people and inspire a deeper understanding of Christian theology. This book is easy to reccomend to someone who is seriously interested in Christology.

O'Collins, Professor of Systematic and Fundamental Theology at the Gregorian University in Rome, has written yet another timely book on this central aspect of our faith. As C.C. Newman writes on the back cover:"O'Collins has produced a Christological accounting that is breathtaking in scope...[He] successfully balances the academic search for truth with practical concerns for justice and equality, all the while preserving the center of liturgical celebration...this book is steeped in, though not encumbered by, a thorough knowledge of all the problematic epistemological and hermeneutical issues. Carefully and lucidly written...this is mature book from a seasoned scholar on an important subject."

Contents include: 1:Some Major Challenges 2:The Background 3:The Human History 4:The Resurrection 5:The Son of God 6:Lord, Savior, God, and Spirit 7:To the First Council of Constantinople 8:Ephesus, Chalcedon, and Beyond 9:Medieval and Modern Christology 10:Divine and Human 11:Faith, Holiness, and Virgin Conception 12:Redeemer 13:Universal Redeemer 14:The Possibilities of Presence Bibliography, Index of Names, Biblical Index.

Other books of interest include: Trinity and Incarnation by Basil Studer, Incarnation-Myth or Fact? by Oskar Skarsaune, An Introduction to New Testament Christology by Raymond Brown, The Mystery of the Trinity by Boris Bobrinskoy, Trinitarian Theology East and West by Meyendorff and Fahey, The Gospel Image of Christ by Veselin Kesich. Enjoy!

Dr Wijdicks is an authority in the relative new field of critical care neurology and has written a practical textbook which can be used by residents, general neurologists, emergency room physicians, trauma surgeons, and general critical care physicians who generally do not care for critically ill neurological patients. While many times neurocritical care is discussed in the realms of neurosurgery, this text has extensive discussions in regards to neurology only emergencies (like GBS and MG).

great book for clinical practice
very well written and very familiar to the clinician

Very interesting, has comprehensive chapters covering a broad range of critical care neurological conditions. The bool includes the author's personal opinion, exmaples and, most important, how to administrer drugs and their dosages!

This book is a good study text in simple straigt forwad language the principles of critical care neurology. I wouldnt be on call without it. It also comes with a pocketbook that is handy to have.

This is the new, revised edition of the classic manual for practical management of neurologic catastrophes. An easy cover-to-cover read for the resident (me), but my staff still use it liberally as a reference. Great for NICU or consult rotations, because you can easily find specific data-goal MAP for SAH, how often to track sodium for CSW (and how to differentiate from SIADH, clinically), etc. Very practical.

easy to read with a lot of exemple and cincal case this book it's very up to date. a book for guys very fond off abt the "art" of ECG interpretation, a issue not always enphatized in the modern cardiology. Of note the easy to understand ECGrgafic pattern and correlation with the culpirit lesion in coronar vessels, difficoult of interpretation of some pattern of lateral STEMI end a lot of many others of trik and pearls.
my preferred txtbook of ECG is tc chou (anyboody know something abt new Suravitz edt after the one of 2001 edt ? )and I think this book of S W SMITH are able in maintaining the philosophy of the surface ECG interpretation.

This text is an incredibly useful reference appropriate for students, nurses, and physicians at all levels of training or expertise. I skimmed the book while in residency and have reviewed it much more thoroughly since completing my training.

The utility of this reference is basically three-fold...

In the acute setting, it is perhaps the only reference that provides more than 200 case-based examples of both 'classic' and more subtle ECG findings to assist in ECG interpretation. High-yield and 'do not miss' facts and examples of both normal and abnormal findings secondary to ischemia or structural abnormalities are highlighted for quick reference. I have not found a more useful resource that can so quickly provide such valuable information.

The text also includes concise review of basic principles imperative to understanding (not just memorizing) ECG interpretation including brief reviews of anatomy, vector analysis, structural defects, and how these factors affect ECG findings. It also illustrates the dynamic nature of the ECG in the setting of ischemia by showing serial ECGs and ECG findings at varying stages of myocardial injury and recovery.

Included in each chapter is an annotated bibliography which acts as a very helpful guide to recent literature. This provides a more focused summary of relavent studies related to each chapter, which allows you to select those suitable for more in-depth review.


The only negative feedback I've heard from friends/colleagues is mild discontent with the rather 'bulleted' text presentation. Personally, I find this to be a strength of the reference as it facilitates rapid review without sacrificing content.

The bottom line is that this text is high-yield, absolutely worth $50, and is the only resource I've found that is focuses on utility in the urgent/emergent setting. I've bought many books, but I actually use this book.

This is a very comprehensive, evidence-based book which will improve your ability to interpret what that ECG is telling you about your patient. I particularly like the extensive use of actual patient cases. Definitely worth the $50.

This book is a great tool to bring your interpretation of ECG in the setting of MI to the next level. If you are a medical student who wants to become competent at reading ECGs you need this book. It not only serves as a tutor, but also as a reference. It's so packed with relevant information that I can't imagine how other medical students can go without it, especially anyone considering a career in Emergency Medicine. If you understand the addage: "the more you know the more you learn," then you'll understand exactly why you need this book early in your career. This book will make you a better doctor.

The ECG in Acute MI provides a quick reference text for use in critical clinical situations in which accurate ECG interpretation will lead to more rapid recognition of appropriate candidates for reperfusion therapy, as well as a text for more detailed study of electrocardiogram interpretation. This manual is intended for all clinicians that may have to recognize and treat an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Thus, this book is for emergency department physicians, cardiologists, critical care physicians, hospitalists, internists, family practitioners, physician assistants, cardiac care nurses, residents and medical students. The text assumes a basic clinical understanding of electrocardiograms and common terminology, and focuses on outlining the essentials of ECG interpretation and how they may be used to accurately diagnose AMI, as well as to facilitate appropriate and timely reperfusion therapy. In this manual, reperfusion therapy includes the use of thrombolytics and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), including angioplasty and stent placement.
The authors utilize a well-organized format of concisely written text with key points highlighted and numerous clinical and electrocardiographic demonstrations included in every chapter in order to illustrate core concepts, and allow for quick reference. The text is divided into six sections for rapid review and easy access: General Issues of ECG Morphologies and the Diagnosis of AMI; the ECG Morphologies of AMI broken down by anatomic distribution (i.e. anterior MI, Inferior MI, etc.); Conditions that can obscure the diagnosis of AMI, including ECG pseudo-infarction patterns and AMI look-alikes; Other issues including atypical presentations, biomarkers and echocardiography as used in the reperfusion decision; and the management of AMI.
The ECG in Acute MI includes more than 300 12-lead ECGs, over 200 of which have accompanying case histories to help the reader understand the ECG in a clinical context. Many of the case examples include angiographic findings that serve to cement the reader's understanding of the ECG manifestations of anatomical disease. The chapters and representative example cases are cross-referenced extraordinarily well, facilitating review and comparison in an emergency setting. In addition, each chapter contains an extensive annotated bibliography outlining the pertinent studies previously published, including interpreted methods, findings and comments. The value of including a detailed description of the evidence based literature on which assertions in the text are made, cannot be overstated. Overall, there are more than 500 cited references for the text.
The ECG in Acute MI is well organized, thorough and an easy to use manual, both for the seasoned physician and the clinician in training. Although a manual focusing only on ECG interpretation seems a bit daunting at over 300 pages, the concise format of the text makes reading or reviewing chapters either to refresh prior knowledge or verify findings of an acute ECG in the clinical setting to confirm an interpretation entirely possible. While the reviewer had been comfortable with her ability to interpret ECG's in the acute setting, she was pleasantly surprised at just how much she learned from this manual. The authors set out to review and highlight the key aspects of ECG interpretation in order to more accurately diagnose acute MI and facilitate appropriate and timely therapy. The authors focus on educating the reader on the more sophisticated interpretation of subtle, non-diagnostic and atypical electrocardiographic findings of infarction, beyond the much more easily recognized "tombstoning" pattern of AMI. Additionally, the case based discussion utilizing serial ECG's emphasizes the dynamic nature of the electrocardiogram in acute myocardial infarction. This has led the reviewer to be much more suspicious of subtle hints on an initial ECG and the value of repeated examination in the acute clinical setting. The drawback of a text focused on subtle and atypical ECG findings is that the manual is occasionally tedious in its' detail and tiresome in its' description of differentiating characteristics of subtleties.
Although there are several excellent manuals for ECG interpretation available in the medical literature, the ECG in Acute MI is superior in its utilization of clinical correlation and evidenced based theory. The ECG in acute MI would be an excellent addition to any emergency department library, and would easily lend itself to the development of an advanced ECG interpretation module for residency curriculum. The authors have added a unique and tremendously valuable resource to the reference texts available to practicing clinicians.

I found the book most useful as it gave me inside views of the worker and patient that I, as an advocate, had not thought of. It verified a lot of feelings and frustrations I have had in assisting my mother with her care and gave me new angles to use in my planning with her. I was grateful to find an uncluttered index and the large type makes it easy to find information throughout the book. I wish I had had this book five years ago, when care for my mother first became necessary.

A wonderful book. I only wish I had read its contents when I was helping take care of seventy golden agers in a nursing home. Although the book is for homecare, many of the concepts can apply in any setting. It is heartwarming to know a human being with a compassionate heart will never be replaced by a machine.

I was the primary care provider when my wife had lung cancer. When my 94 year old mother fell I was lucky enough to get a copy of the book. It provides answers without time consuming research. I was so impressed I bought a dozen copies for friends and family.

Finally a book on home care that is reader friendly!! So much info, so easy to understand. If you have questions, this book has the answers!!

I found this book to be comprehensive, yet simple to follow. It contains valuable information about every aspect of homecare--much of which, experience is the only other source. The author has created an excellent support and reference tool.

I found this book to be one of the most concise and well written I have come across in my training. There is a tremendous amount of material without any of the filler. I recommend this book to any medical student, non-anesthesia resident or first year anesthesia resident.

I found this book to be one of the most concise and well written I have come across in my training. There is a tremendous amount of material without any of the filler. I recommend this book to any medical student, non-anesthesia resident or first year anesthesia resident.

I thought the book was well organized and covered alot of pertinent subjects and algorithms commonly aked about and seen in everyday anesthesia practice.

Also the fact that the handbook can easily fit into a lab coat pocket makes it a great quick reference while in the hospital.

Although anesthesiology is an enormous subject the pocketbook book fullfills its purpose as a quick
reference. I would recommend it to any fourth year on an anesthesia elective or intern on an anesthesia rotation.

Great review for those who are new to anesthesia (med students and new residents).
Covers the basic in a concise paragraph form.
Covers lots of information, but is well written.

I loved this book! (I wasn't even interested in anesthesia until I read it.) This book can take a student who knows nothing about anesthesia and turn her into a functioning, knowledgable member of an anesthesia team in a matter of days. Read this book (or at least the first few chapters) the weekend before your start your anesthesia rotation, and finish it by the end of the first week. You will be able to answer questions from the attending, and ask even better ones! It is concise, easy to read, and very high-yield. To add to it, it fits in the back pocket of your scrubs.

The word on the street among Harvard Med students is that there are two textbooks that every med student should have and read cover-to-cover: Weinberg "Pulmonology" and Lilly's cardiovascular text. Now that I have discovered this book, I would say that there are three books, and this "Clinical Manual of Anesthesia" is one of them!

When my 6 year old announced, that she wants to become a dancer and was allowed to train with the bigger girls after only 3 months in pre-ballet, I thought, I might have a problem, so I purchased this book.
After all, it's not as bad as I thought, and the book really answered lots of my questions and calmed my concerns, though it might be a bigger wealth of information for american parents than for european parents.
But though it is more suited to US-circumstances than to dutch circumstances, it is very well worth the read also for european parents of dance-crazy children. It really answers every question you might have when parenting a dancer, and gives honest answers to concerns such as eating disorders.
I'd recommend it to every parent.

This book is very comprehensive and informative. If your child is in pre-pro ballet school the book will help you understand how artistic directors make the choices for performances, moving dancers up, etc. David Howard shares valuable information, in a easy to understand format. Book was easy and enjoyable to read. I reccomend this book for all Moms of dancers.

Collaboratively written by Angela Whitehill and William Noble, The Parents Book Of Ballet is an answer-packed guide for parents of preteens, early teens, and older children learning the art and craft of ballet. Chapters cover how to find a qualified teacher, how to help a young person adapt to the demands of rehearsal and auditions, the pros and cons of ballet, and much more. The Parents Book Of Ballet is very highly recommended for the parents of any youngster with an interested in taking ballet lessons.

I loved this book. It was wonderful. It gave a lot of information and at the same time was very interesting. It gave all the facts you would want to know as a parent of a young dancer, or a young dancer yourself. I found everything I wanted to know in it and would recommend it to a friend.

This book is exactly what the title says it is-a guide. Not a textbook, a quick and easy read, yet it is so informative, it should be mandatory reading for all parents of dance students, especially ballet. Ms. Whitehill takes the parent through all stages of dance training and gives the best advice I've seen to date. Covers EVERYTHING!

Stedman's Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Words is my fingertip reference in medical transcribing. It has saved me so much time and effort when I need to verify a word or phrase. I certainly recommend Stedman's Word books to anyone in the medical transcription field. They are a "must have" for your reference library. Thanks Amazon for offering these books on your book list.

Highly recommend if you are looking for useful addition to MT word books. Use it daily. Very easy to use. This is what keeps me going.

I recently took a job in cardiovascular biomarker research and found that this book was an excellent resource -- not just for the cardiovascular terms, but also the genetic terminology! I use it frequently, since spellcheck doesn't recognize any of these specialized terms.

I am a medical transcriptionist and I can HIGHLY recommend this book. It paid for itself within the first week. If you are specializing in cardiology, this is the book to get.

This has been one of the most helpful books I have purchased. I like to size compared to others I have used. It is concise, and easy to use. Great resource book.

review by Tee L. Guidotti, MD, MPH University of Alberta Edmonton
JAMA 1995; 273(12):971. Understanding Lung Sounds, by Steven Lehrer, 2nd ed, 150 pp. with Illus, paper, and 1 audiocassette, $35.95 ISBN 0-7216-4902-5, Philadelphia, Pa, WB Saunders, 1993. Steven Lehrer's introduction to auscultation is a primer of pulmonary diagnosis using lung sounds as its unifying theme. Intended to educate the ear as much as the mind, his kit is a self-contained learning experience for the medical student. It may also be useful for critical care and pulmonary service nurses. The kit is an excellent learning system and is highly recommended as an introduction to the topic. The book begins with an homage by Victor McKusick to the Golden Age of auscultation, introduced by Rene Theophile Hyacinthe Laennec in 1816. The sketch is too brief to elaborate on the fascinating history of auscultation, which at the time was a monumental undertaking. Laennec codified his work in 1819 in his book Traité de l'auscultation médiate, an effort that exhausted him and extracted a two-year period of recovery from his career. Laennec was a pupil of Jean Nicholas Corvisart, the leading advocate and systematizer of chest percussion. Mentor and student defined the chest examination as we know it. Lehrer continues the work, as the transmitter of a grand tradition. The first chapter reviews the anatomy of the lung and the physiology of ventilation, omitting blood gas interpretation. Lehrer also introduces common pathological conditions, briefly exploring their auscultatory findings. The second chapter shifts attention to the other end of the stethoscope: the listener. Lehrer discusses sound characteristics, the hearing mechanism, and the stethoscope as an instrument. In the third chapter, he introduces the history and physical examination of the patient with chest disease. Here he departs from the emphasis on auscultation to provide the student with a context for the auscultatory examination--an appreciation for the findings that are likely to accompany the abnormal sounds. Chapter 4 discusses normal breath sounds. This is a fine outline of physical examination of the chest, worth a complete physical diagnosis teaching session with students. It also introduces a simple graphic system of notation. The interested specialist may welcome the discussion of recording systems and waveform analysis. The novice may find this tedious, but the visual display of a waveform does help to prepare one for informed listening. Chapter 5 is what most students will consider the meat of the program, an outstanding and comprehensive treatment of abnormal lung sounds that does not ignore minor phenomena such as mouth noises. Mixing clinical observation with experimental findings, Lehrer explains the origins of abnormal lung sounds and interprets them in keeping with structural and functional changes in the lung. The script to the accompanying tape, a glossary, and an index round out the book. The script and tape provide examples of the more important normal and abnormal lung sounds, followed by a short quiz. Each lung sound is introduced, demonstrated, and explained. Lehrer has the student listen to the tape through a stethoscope to ensure realism. For the more experienced reader, the text reminds one how unsatisfactory the usual descriptors of lung sounds have become. After Laennec's elegant system in French, his English-speaking disciples (who are legion) seemed determined to add their own vocabulary. Both the American Thoracic Society and the American College of Chest Physicians have tried to standardize the terminology, in so doing unfortunately reducing it to an impoverished few words: rales (or crackles), wheeze, and rhonchus. Lehrer is wise to use British descriptors, which are more precise. However, there is something evocative about terms like "consonating rales," and one misses the poetry of authors like J. Milner Fothergill, who wrote in his Chronic Bronchitis (New York, NY: GP Putnam's Sons; 1882: pp.23-24): "Careful percussion . . . tells much about the complications of chronic bronchitis; even when it has nothing to say about the malady itself. Auscultation, however, is eloquent, even loquacious, about the disease.... Sometimes, especially when the patient is asleep, there may be quite a musical note...." Medical texts will never be written like that again, but Lehrer's prose is as clear and precise as Fothergill's and on occasion even gets mildly carried away with the romance of its subject.

Simply superb CD/booklet for lung sounds. I recommend it to all students (interns, respiratory, etc) and clinicians who need perfect their skills on chest chest sounds (eg, respiratory therapists and "new young" MDs).

Steven Lehrer's introduction to auscultation is a primer of pulmonary diagnosis using lung sounds as its unifying theme. Intended to educate the ear as much as the mind, his kit is a self-contained learning experience for the medical student. It may also be useful for critical care and pulmonary service nurses. The kit is an excellent learning system and is highly recommended as an introduction to the topic.

The book begins with an homage by Victor McKusick to the Golden Age of auscultation, introduced by Rene Theophile Hyacinthe Laennec in 1816. The sketch is too brief to elaborate on the fascinating history of auscultation, which at the time was a monumental undertaking. Laennec codified his work in 1819 in his book Traité de l'auscultation médiate, an effort that exhausted him and extracted a two-year period of recovery from his career. Laennec was a pupil of Jean Nicholas Corvisart, the leading advocate and systematizer of chest percussion. Mentor and student defined the chest examination as we know it. Lehrer continues the work, as the transmitter of a grand tradition.

The first chapter reviews the anatomy of the lung and the physiology of ventilation, omitting blood gas interpretation. Lehrer also introduces common pathological conditions, briefly exploring their auscultatory findings. The second chapter shifts attention to the other end of the stethoscope: the listener. Lehrer discusses sound characteristics, the hearing mechanism, and the stethoscope as an instrument. In the third chapter, he introduces the history and physical examination of the patient with chest disease. Here he departs from the emphasis on auscultation to provide the student with a context for the auscultatory examination--an appreciation for the findings that are likely to accompany the abnormal sounds.

Chapter 4 discusses normal breath sounds. This is a fine outline of physical examination of the chest, worth a complete physical diagnosis teaching session with students. It also introduces a simple graphic system of notation. The interested specialist may welcome the discussion of recording systems and waveform analysis. The novice may find this tedious, but the visual display of a waveform does help to prepare one for informed listening. Chapter 5 is what most students will consider the meat of the program, an outstanding and comprehensive treatment of abnormal lung sounds that does not ignore minor phenomena such as mouth noises. Mixing clinical observation with experimental findings, Lehrer explains the origins of abnormal lung sounds and interprets them in keeping with structural and functional changes in the lung. The script to the accompanying tape, a glossary, and an index round out the book.

The script and tape provide examples of the more important normal and abnormal lung sounds, followed by a short quiz. Each lung sound is introduced, demonstrated, and explained. Lehrer has the student listen to the tape through a stethoscope to ensure realism.

For the more experienced reader, the text reminds one how unsatisfactory the usual descriptors of lung sounds have become. After Laennec's elegant system in French, his English-speaking disciples (who are legion) seemed determined to add their own vocabulary. Both the American Thoracic Society and the American College of Chest Physicians have tried to standardize the terminology, in so doing unfortunately reducing it to an impoverished few words: rales (or crackles), wheeze, and rhonchus. Lehrer is wise to use British descriptors, which are more precise. However, there is something evocative about terms like "consonating rales," and one misses the poetry of authors like J. Milner Fothergill, who wrote in his Chronic Bronchitis (New York, NY: GP Putnam's Sons; 1882: pp.23-24): "Careful percussion . . . tells much about the complications of chronic bronchitis; even when it has nothing to say about the malady itself. Auscultation, however, is eloquent, even loquacious, about the disease.... Sometimes, especially when the patient is asleep, there may be quite a musical note...."

Medical texts will never be written like that again, but Lehrer's prose is as clear and precise as Fothergill's and on occasion even gets mildly carried away with the romance of its subject.

Tee L. Guidotti, MD, MPH University of Alberta Edmonton
JAMA 1995; 273(12):971

Understanding Lung Sounds 2nd edition review from Chest:

"Understanding Lung Sounds is a paperback with accompanying audiotape that provides an introduction to the art of auscultation of lung sounds and physical diagnosis of chest diseases. The book affords a written explanation of the mechanics of respiratory findings and couples it with the schematic representation of sophisticated lung sound analysis. The audiotape provides examples of the described auscultatory findings.

In this edition, Dr. Lehrer covers both normal and abnormal lung sounds, which allows the novice a unique experience in physical diagnosis of the chest. His text is concise and very understandable for the medical student, nursing student, or physician. The accompanying tape is of excellent quality and provides findings that would be hard to assemble at one time, if patients were required. This variety of findings allows the listener, for instance, to compare and distinguish normal from abnormal and low pitched crackles from high pitched crackles.

This text would be a good addition to any medical student's library. As a teacher of Physical Diagnosis, this reviewer also found it to be a highly recommendable adjunct text for the course. Although a bit simplistic for the experienced practitioner, it is well written. This text is an excellent introduction to understanding lung sounds through sight and sound.

Tim Ferguson, MD Evansville, Indiana/ Chest 1995; 107:20

This book-and-tape package guides readers through the sounds and skills of chest auscultation. They get an easy-to-follow, 60-minute cassette that presents actual lung sounds and an accompanying manual that gives them the background to understand what they hear. The reader will be better able to differentiate between normal and abnormal noises, detect pulmonary disorders early, and help plan a management strategy immediately. The 2nd Edition presents how to examine patients by auscultatory percussion, frequency differences between adults and children and the Fourier transformation method of lung sound analysis.

"The content is timely but relatively timeless; it will not soon go out of date." Annals of Internal Medicine