The author set out specifically to produce a book on surgical emergencies, and mentions selecting contributors whose expertise would complement those disciplines. To this goal, emergencies of surgery are presented in a step-by-step format to deal with the situation at hand. Troubleshooting is an important part of the quotient. The book title suggests emergencies that occur during surgery but emergencies upon presentation are heavily included. A book on how to fix a surgeon’s error on the fly would be useful but may not speak well of the surgeon.

Soft tissue emergencies are divided into body systems with specific surgical emergencies detailed. Wound management, Oral, Reproductive, and Orthopedic topics are presented.

Chapter 1, Triage and Stabilization, opens the book, which covers the initial presentation. While not specifically the result of surgery, this nevertheless gives the surgeon a heads-up about possible emergency complications. A list of possible presentations follows, including Hypoxemic Shock, Cardiovascular Assessment, Metabolic Shock, Dehydration, Neurologic Assessment, Urinary Assessment, Vascular Access, Analgesia, Sedation, and Anxiolyties.

Section 1. This picks up following triage and covers the Gastrointestinal System: This is comprised of Chapters one through 16, each a specific issue of the GI tract.

Section 2. This covers The Urinary System and contains Chapters 17 through 22. While each chapter is relatively short, the content is condensed and explicit in description and resolution.

Section 3. The Respiratory System contains Chapters 23 through 38, including Upper Airway Disease, Plural Space Disease, and Chest Wall Disease.

Section 4. The Cardiovascular System is contained in Chapters 39-40 and discusses Pacemaker Therapy and Pericardial Effusion.

Section 5. The Reproductive System, Chapters 41 – 45 cover C-Sections, Pyometra, Penile and Testicular Emergencies, Prostatic Abscessation, and Uterine and Vaginal Prolapse.

Section 6. Wound Management, Chapters 46-50 addresses Bite Wounds, Burns, Penetrating Injury in the Dog and Cat, Necrotizing Fasciitis, and Degloving and Shear Injuries.

Section 7. Comprised of Chapter 51, discusses Ocular Emergencies The discussion is heavy on presentational based emergencies rather than surgical, although most of the remedies are surgical.

Section 8. Chapter 52 discusses Oral Surgical Emergencies. Again, the discussion is heavy on presentational emergencies.

Chapter 9. The last two Chapters address Orthopedic Emergencies: The Septic Joint (53), and Management of open fractures (54).

The book is well illustrated with photos, while color drawings illustrate step-by-step procedures for the reader. Some cadaver photos further illustrate views not otherwise easily obtained. Ultrasound views are included as are recommended instruments to have in your arsenal.

This is a book that should be read in advance of the emergency presentation and checked again just prior to surgical intervention.

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell, 2016. Hard cover, color and black & white illustrations. 70 contributors.

ISBN: 9781118413487