Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Zollinger's Atlas of Surgical Operations

2004; Elsevier BV; Volume: 39; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.jvs.2004.01.006

1097-6809

Ricardo Vásquez,

Health and Medical Research Impacts

Surgery has evolved significantly over the last decade. The Atlas of Surgical Operations, 8th edition, by authors Zollinger and Zollinger, attempts to highlight the more pertinent techniques used today. A traditional general surgeon will find this book particularly useful because it depicts a broad range of operative techniques. The 2003 edition has added 11 new chapters and 16 new plates since the 7th edition was published in 1993. Interestingly, the style and appearance of the pen and ink drawings that have endured nearly 70 years conjure an incongruous feeling relative to the new colorful glossy exterior cover. There is more focus on advanced laparoscopic operations, including the commonly performed appendectomy, splenectomy, and Nissen fundoplication. However, the authors are particularly interested in defining the core major general surgical procedures using well-established and safe techniques because, despite today's fragmentation of general surgery into subspecialties, the surgeon must ultimately be responsible for both operative competence and judgment. Of note is that the indications and diagrams for a full radical mastectomy have yielded to wide local excisions and sentinel lymph node dissections. The authors acknowledge that pathologies such as breast cancer can now be treated less invasively with integrated approaches, with equally good outcomes. Also, to the chagrin of the some surgeons, minimally invasive intervention has supplanted major tour de force operations such as portosystemic shunts. I believe the strength of the atlas rests in the breadth of surgical techniques depicted in one book. Certainly studying or reviewing from a single book fosters continuity and comprehension. On the other hand, more specialized texts such as Rutherford's Vascular Surgery offer more complete lists of indications and more precise attention to detail. The new Atlas of Surgical Operations is best suited for younger general surgeons adventurous enough to dabble in all subspecialties. Ultimately, the authors must be praised for providing well-guided illustrations of surgical techniques that will serve to supplement any surgeon's armamentarium.