Book Review

Oxford Textbook of Surgery

N Engl J Med 1995; 332:1585-1586June 8, 1995

Article

Oxford Textbook of Surgery
Edited by Peter J. Morris and Ronald A. Malt. 2764 pp. in two volumes, illustrated. New York, Oxford University Press, 1994. $175. ISBN: 0-19-261800-8

The Oxford Textbook of Surgery represents, in this information-rich era, a very noteworthy accomplishment. Edited by Ronald A. Malt of the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and Peter J. Morris of the Oxford University Clinical School, this massive two-volume work covers the length and breadth of general surgery in the classic sense. Starting with chapters on wound healing, anesthesia, and modern imaging techniques, the book goes on to cover pediatric surgery, head and neck surgery, orthopedic surgery, cardiac surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, urology, and of course, all aspects of surgery of the abdomen. In addition, the book has made a real effort to be current, with chapters on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, cytokines, and critical care. The authors make no attempt to cover the detailed aspects of diagnosis and care within these areas, but rather provide a general framework. Consequently, the textbook is ideally suited to practitioners in nonsurgical areas of medicine who need a ready surgical reference, as well as to medical students and residents in training in general surgery.

The book takes a somewhat unusual approach. It expounds on the clinical viewpoints that prevail at the Massachusetts General Hospital and at Oxford, but makes only moderate efforts to provide any in-depth review of alternatives. The majority of the contributors are either on the respective faculties of these two institutions or have had affiliations with them.

Although the styles of individual contributors are evident, overall the book is well written, reads easily, and has been elegantly illustrated with very clear color graphics that are a pleasure to peruse. If there is a weakness in the overall approach of this book, it lies in the generally adopted single point of view. In some circumstances this can oversimplify controversial areas of management and deny the reader the opportunity to see all sides. There is also a paucity of clinical algorithms and discussions of surgical techniques, although this fault varies from contributor to contributor. The bibliographic support, usually only a few representative articles on any particular subject, is meager.

As we approach the end of this century, most aspects of medicine are in flux. This is no less true in medical education. The widespread penetration of personal computers and the information superhighway have radically changed how those who aspire to the profession acquire information and study. An encyclopedic work, years in the making, would be obsolete almost on the date it was published. The editors of the Oxford Textbook of Surgery have recognized this and, true to their stated intent, have adopted an older, more venerable approach. They have attempted to step into the role of mentor and to emphasize the art and experience of surgery rather than encompass all of its technical detail. In this they have succeeded. Whatever the fate of general textbooks may be in the future, this book is an excellent addition to the reference shelves of those of us practicing today.

Alan Hackford, M.D.
Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111