Clinical Monitoring: Practical Applications for Anesthesia and Critical Care

Abstract

Clinical Monitoring: Practical Applications for Anesthesia and Critical Care C. L. Lake, R. L. Hines, C. D. Blitt, editors. Philadelphia: WB Saunders, 2000. ISBN: 0-7216-8698-2. 568 pages, $95.00. This book, written by multiple authors, is intended for practitioners working in operating rooms and critical care units. The book combines and updates the clinical knowledge presented in Hines and Blitt, Monitoring in Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, 3rd edition, and Lake, Clinical Monitoring in Anesthesia and Critical Care, 2nd edition. The book is well organized and composed of six parts; “General Principles,” “Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems,” “Cardiac Monitoring,” “Respiratory System,” “Other Monitoring Applications,” and “Monitoring in Special Situations.” In the first part, this textbook deals with general issues regarding monitoring: philosophy of monitoring, information systems, simulators, patient safety, electrical safety, and principles of pressure monitoring. This reviewer, as a member of the planning committee for a new branch of his university hospital, has a great interest in these chapters. In order to design a new operating theater and intensive care unit in a university hospital, it is fundamental to plan systems for data collection, educating both undergraduate students and residents, and routine clinical practice. In the following parts, the book deals with each monitoring method and apparatus. Anesthesiologists routinely use many patient-monitoring apparatuses. One goal in the management of patients during anesthesia and critical care medicine is to maintain monitored vital signs in their acceptable ranges. To achieve this goal, anesthesiologists must understand the basic physics and principles for measuring variables, physiological significance and reliability of data collected, and possibility of errors in information monitoring in special situations. This textbook provides the necessary information for each monitoring device with an adequate number of figures to understand principles, the significance, and the possible errors. Each chapter is written in a straightforward and easily digestible style. As the editors intended, the content and style make this an excellent standard textbook. It provides updated information on clinical monitoring during anesthesia and critical care and will serve as a useful reference.