Book Reviews

Endoscopy of the Upper GI Tract. A Training Manual Berthold Block Guido Schachschal Hartmut Schmidt Thieme Verlagsgruppe 2004 £108.00 HB ISBN 1588902390

It is not often you come across a book which is a real pleasure to read through, but this was certainly the case with Endoscopy of the Upper GI Tract. It is extremely well laid out, in a very logical manner with chapters taking the reader through the indications and set-up for endoscopy, the practicalities, thereafter discussing pathologies and finally finishing up with sections on endoscopic procedures. All of these are illustrated with high quality photographs and diagrams to illustrate the practical process. What is particularly useful, certainly in the chapter on technique, is the correlation between endoscopic images and diagrams showing the position of the endoscope. The sections on pathology are similarly well illustrated but include very useful boxes on diagnosis, set out in a way which is both practical and easy to remember.

Endoscopy of the Upper GI Tract is the sort of book that I would have loved to have had when I was learning endoscopy. Indeed, I have encouraged trainees that I am actively teaching at the moment to have a look at this book, all of whom have found it indispensable. My only worry is that the cost of this, with so many coloured illustrations, may take it out of the range of trainees but it would be a very valuable addition to any library and an essential for any training unit.

K. Park 

Consultant Surgeon Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Aberdeen, Scotland

Transplantation of the Pancreas. Rainer W.G. Gruessner and David E.R. Sutherland (eds.) Springer-Verlag New York Inc 2003 £330.00 HB ISBN 0387005897

This book is a multi-author volume edited by two eminent practitioners of transplantation of the pancreas in a centre where the procedure has been carried out for many years. The book is not just committed to discussing transplantation of the pancreas it also discusses diabetes mellitus in detail and the treatment options for that condition. Three chapters cover this area. After this, the history of pancreatic transplantation and the various animal models that can be used in research are discussed. There is then a detailed description of donor selection, pancreas preservation, donor procedures and management with some excellent coloured drawings to detail exactly how the procedures are performed. This would be very useful for anyone wishing to understand how to remove or insert the pancreas. The post-operative management of the patient following pancreas transplantation is then discussed in detail, the book taking the novel course of discussing an uncomplicated case and then a complicated case.

This is then followed by a discussion of the appropriate immunosuppressive therapy and the pathology relating to the pancreas including autoimmune recurrence, cross match positively and graft versus hot disease. Living donor pancreas transplantation is also covered in detail and evidence for improvements in the complications of diabetes following successful transplantation, including retinopathy, nephropathy and cardiovascular disease, are covered fully.

Towards the end of the book, quality of life following transplantation and the economic issues that relate to it are discussed.

Right at the end there is a single chapter on islet cell transplantation. This chapter tries to cover that area but obviously cannot do so in such a short space. Nevertheless, as in the rest of the book, the reference list is voluminous and that chapter alone has 447 references.

This is an excellent book on pancreatic transplantation. I think the title of the book should be Transplantation of the Whole Pancreas as the single chapter on islet cell transplantation does not really do it justice and should really occupy a separate book. However, for anyone wishing to be involved in whole organ pancreas transplantation this book covers all aspects of that activity and would also serve as a reference book because of the very large number of up to date references at the end of each chapter. As such, it would be useful for anyone involved in or wishing to be involved in whole organ transplantation.

Professor P. Bell 

Leicester Royal Infirmary Leicester, UK