Radiology for Anaesthesia and Intensive Care (Paperback)

This is a clear and well-formatted book covering key aspects of radiological imaging and interpretation. Although aimed primarily at Anaesthetists and intensive care medical staff undertaking the FRCA examination it may of use to anaesthetic nurses and ODPs who have an interest in developing their knowledge and skills in these areas. It is logically presented with chapters organised in body systems, including a guide to reading images and underlying relevant anatomy. Whilst there are some useful tips for developing a systematic approach to interpretation of films this book appears to assume a level of prior experience in this area. Case illustrations and a question and answer approach make this a challenging read and all common pathologies are covered. The radiological principles of specialist investigations, such as ultrasound, MRI and CT scan are addressed within separate chapters, as well as the role of anaesthetics within the radiology department. This book would be a useful resource text for those involved in pre-operative assessment, although I would suggest that this is not a read for the novice as there are a large number of complex cases and images. Whilst I don't think you could teach yourself x-ray interpretation from this book, the case study format would provide an opportunity to develop your skills in this area. This excellent book is aimed at all anaesthetists whose clinical practice is dependent in any way upon radiological investigations. For trainees, who wish to learn how to interpret a chest x-ray, or examiners seeking erudite questions relating to Hampton's hump or the Harris ring, this book has it all! It includes core radiological requirements for the FRCA examination and the Diploma in Intensive Care Medicine. There is an introductory section that explains where radiological images may be encountered in the Primary and Final FRCA examination. There is no doubt that a systematic approach to interpretation of x-rays gives examiners the impression of a safe and experienced candidate. This book is up-to-date enough to consider that competency based assessments of SpRs should include an ability to manage patients who require sedation and analgesia in radiology departments. A foreword discusses the place of radiological investigations in preoperative assessment and relates to current guidelines from the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland, the Royal College of Radiologists, and the American Society of Anesthesiologists. There are chapters on imaging the chest, the abdomen, the cervical spine, and the head. The anatomically based introductions to these chapters give sound, practical advice on systematic interpretation of the necessary examinations required to diagnose common pathologies. The reader will be impressed with the quality of images throughout the book, although a degree of concentration is required to follow the lines and dotted arrows that refer to figure captions, particularly in the cervical spine section. A large number of case illustrations are used to demonstrate frequently encountered clinical conditions. There is an emphasis on what anaesthetists and intensivists will encounter on a regular basis rather than on esoteric syndromes. A separate chapter on trauma radiology includes excellent CT scans and angiograms of blunt ch.

As more anaesthetists become involved in critical care and other areas of perioperative management, they need to be able to request radiological investigations, and interpret the results quickly and accurately. This concise and fully illustrated book covers the key aspects of imaging that are of relevance to anaesthetists and intensivists, and examines all imaging modalities that are likely to be called upon (plain film, CT, MRI etc.). The book is organised logically by body system for ease of access to information and is written by a team of radiologists and anaesthetists, providing a dual perspective.