It is the practical experience gained in the operating room and on the wards dealing with complications and deviations from the typical or average scenario that matures and fully develops a surgeon. The typical textbook demonstrates the “right” or standard way to do things and the implicit assumption is that if these guidelines are followed then the patient and the surgeon’s life will be complication free. Good results come from experience and experience is gained by making mistakes. The goal of this book is to minimize the frequency of surgical complications and maximize the outcome when they do occur by allowing the reader to learn from the operative and clinical experience of those who have gone before so that each generation can collectively stand on the shoulders of the preceding generation without the need to learn from one’s own complications.

This book is therefore designed less to address indications for operations than how to carry them out and provide postoperative care without complications. While the authors of the various chapters address the correct or right way to perform operations and care for patients after surgery, they have also been tasked to address and emphasize specific dos and don’ts for both intraoperative techniques and postoperative care that will reduce the incidence of complications. As some complications, alas, are inevitable, also addressed are the issues of timely recognition and appropriate treatment of complications when they do occur despite best efforts.

In a volume intended to supplement standard textbooks and operative atlases, Dr. Little (surgery, Wright State U. School of Medicine, Dayton, OH) introduces 21 contributed chapters by North American authorities in the field who focus more on performing operations and providing post-operative care while minimizing complications than on indications for cardiothoracic surgery or ideal guidelines. Contributors address complications (e.g., pulmonary and neurological) encountered in such surgery generally and in specific types of surgery.
Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Alex Little: Department of Surgery, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Las Vegas, NV

Kevin Murray: Department of Surgery, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Las Vegas, NV

Part I: General Complications.

1. Complications Of Thoracic Incisions.

Norman J. Snow, MD, Malek G. Massad, MD, and Alexander S. Geha, MD, MS.

2. Respiratory Complications of Cardiothoracic Operations.

Hani Shennib, MD.

3. Arrhythmias Following Cardiothoracic Operations.

Adam E Saltman, MD, PhD and Joseph LoCicero III, MD.

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Part II: Complications of General Thoracic Surgery.

4. Complications of Pulmonary Resection.

Stephen J. Burke, MD and L. Penfield Faber, MD.

5. Complications Of Tracheobronchial Resection.

Douglas J. Mathisen, MD.

6. Complications of Lung Volume Reduction Procedures.

Robert J. Burnett, MD and Douglas E. Wood, MD 7. Complications of Lung Transplantation Paul F. Waters, MD, FRCS(C), FACS.

8. Pleural Space Problems.

Sudish Murthy, MD, PhD and Thomas W. Rice, MD.

9. Complications of Chest Wall Reconstruction.

M. Bulent Tirnaksiz, MD and Claude Deschamps, MD.

10. Complications of Esophageal Resection.

Richard J. Battafarano, MD, PhD and Nasser K. Altorki, MD.

11. Complications of Esophageal Reconstruction.

Alex G. Little, MD.

12. Complications Of Anti-Reflux Surgery.

Riivo Ilves, MD, FRCS(C), FACS and Mark R. Dylewski, MD.

13. Complications of Esophageal Instrumentation.

Donald E. Low, MD.

14. Complications of Mediastinal Surgery.

Thomas A. D’Amico, MD.

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Part III: Cardiac Surgery.

15. Complications of Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery.

Nader Moazami, MD and Hendrick Barner, MD.

16. Complications of Cardiopulmonary Bypass and Cardioplegia.

Lawrence L. Creswell, MD.

17. Complications of Aortic Surgery.

Thoralf M. Sundt, MD and Whitney M. Burrows, MD.

18. Complications of Valvular Surgery.

Jeffrey T.Sugimoto, MD, Anthony D. Bruno, MD, and Karen A. Gersch, MD.

19. Postpericardiotomy Syndrome.

William A. Gay, Jr., MD.

20. Pulmonary and Pleural Complications After Cardiac Surgery.

Jeffrey E. Everett, MD.

21. Neurological Complications in Cardiac Surgery.

George J. Koullias, MD, PhD and John A. Elefteriades, MD