This book is a concise, pragmatic guide for the novice in managing patients in ENT surgery. It would be of use on the ward, in the accident and emergency department or in the out-patients clinic, especially to the junior doctor who has not had previous experience of the specialty. It would be of value to any F1/F2 trainees doing ENT as part of a rotation but not particularly wishing to make it their future career. The book will also be of benefit to any number of healthcare workers such as ENT nurse practitioners, accident and emergency nurses and ENT ward nurses. It is a valuable source of quickly available information that will enable the delivery of sound medical management of ENT patients.
Lyons and Singh have created an easy-to-read and easy-to-digest guide. Created in sections for ear, nose and throat, each section is divided into: basic anatomy; basic questions to be asked; how to deal with patients undergoing common problems; and the more common types of surgery and their problems. The common problems and their management are well described and this is usually followed by good tips on how to avoid the pitfalls. The description on the more common ENT procedures should allow the reader to understand the basics and to relay this to the patient if required. However, I feel the description of a mastoid operation is very scant in comparison to others and could be improved. Importantly, after the description of each ENT procedure, the authors have given an outline of all the complications that can occur and which should be looked for.
An early attempt is made to make the guide appealing and relevant to career ENT SHOs in devoting a small detailed schematic diagram of the ear (page 6). Unfortunately, this format has not been carried through the book and the likelihood of this book appealing to the ENT career junior doctor is small.
Illustrations are either monochrome black and white photographs or schematic diagrams. Though not always accurate, the latter are simply done to allow for some useful understanding of anatomy.
A short chapter on pre-admission requirements should further help the reader to remain on the good side of the anaesthetist and the ENT consultant surgeon. This is followed by a section on useful websites and books; although Scott-Brown's Otolaryngology (6th edn, 1997) might be a somewhat of an old reference, it will probably be available in most ENT departments. A final section in the book provides a reasonably good glossary of terms.
Lyons and Singh have created a vade mecum that should be essential in all ENT departments for the use of nurses and trainee doctors.