On Call Surgery

Adams and Bresnick have added another fundamentally sound and complete review book to the On Call series. As with other titles published by Saunders, On Call Surgery is organized in a problem-based manner and is especially useful for the newly practicing intern. Chapters are essentially organized by chief complaint, such as headache, postoperative bleeding, and dysrhythmias. There are general comments on each patient problem, with the remainder of each chapter then presented in a similar format. A hypothetical quired, that of depressing the elevator; clinical situation or physical finding is described, followed by a chronologically guided approach, from the initial ward call to intervention. Readers are instructed on important initial questions and appropriate phone orders. "Elevator thoughts" is a subsection designed to stimulate review of basic science and differential diagnosis en route to the bedside. Lastly, directed physical examination, chart review, and potential interventions are described. Major threats to life and specific hazards are also outlined for the novice intern.