Edited by: Patrick A. Ward, Michael G. Irwin
Pages: 256.
Price: £95.
ISBN: 978–0–19–879072–3
Published by: Oxford University Press, 2023
Turning out its second edition, ‘Oxford Textbook of Anaesthesia for Oral And Maxillofacial Surgery’ has been meticulously revised by new editors and a highly proficient contributor team while retaining its original clear and concise approach. It enlightens the readers with up-to-date information and practical approach to keep abreast with quickly evolving areas of anaesthesia related to oral and maxillofacial surgery.
The book has 19 chapters, which comprehensively cover a wide range of topics.
The chapter on Preoperative Assessment provides in depth information on anesthetic implications of frequently performed oral and maxillofacial surgeries, including trauma, malignancy, infection and various syndromes. However, the provided details should be used as a reference only and can’t be relied upon as sole source of information by the anesthetists practicing dental anesthesia since perioperative management of only few comorbidities is discussed.
Section on ‘Airway Management’ clearly stands out as the information provided is summarized logically and will be practically helpful to the anesthetists in managing patients with challenging airways. This can be a useful resource for both novices and experienced anesthetists as well as members of trauma and emergency teams. Trainee anesthetists interested in gaining expertise in awake tracheal intubation will find chapter on ‘Regional Anaesthesia’ valuable, as it covers basic airway anatomy and nerve blocks along with complications of local anesthetic administration. The chapter on imaging by Indu Mitra emphasizes on importance of imaging in foreseeing potential anesthetic difficulties that may arise as a result of the underlying pathology, like tumor, fractures and infection and it is well supplemented with images.
Sedation techniques along with pharmacology of commonly used agents and general anaesthesia considerations for patients with complex needs and variety of elective surgical procedures indicated for both aesthetic reasons and reconstructive purpose are detailed in separate sections. Challenges faced by the anesthetists while managing emergencies involving head and neck like serious infections, trauma and burns are also thoroughly discussed. In Chapter 15, perioperative planning for managing challenging patients with orofacial malignancy is given due coverage.
The book also delivers clinically valuable content on postoperative care and planning along with surgical complications and management of orofacial pain. The chapter on non-technical skills thoroughly highlights the important contribution of human factors and cognitive skills along with clinical and procedural proficiencies to patient safety.
The book is well supplemented with illustrations in the form of pictures, tables and algorithms for better comprehension. However, addition of useful key points at the beginning of each chapter could have made the book more appealing to the readers. Nonetheless, in my professional opinion, this book and its content will prove a valuable reference tool for both the beginners and the seasoned anesthesiologists and will be equally helpful for oral maxillofacial surgeons in planning and managing patients throughout the perioperative process.
Humaira Jadoon, FCPS
Consultant Anesthetist KRL Hospital, Islamabad (Pakistan).
drhumairajadoon@gmail.com