The Anesthesia Fact Book - Brief Article - Book Review

AORN Journal,  Nov, 2003  by Kevin Kose

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Frank Sweeny 2003, 238 pp $13.95 paperback

Although anesthesia has been practiced for more than 100 years, patients still have many questions and fears about it, contends physician Frank Sweeny in his clearly written handbook on anesthesia. Sweeny, a board certified anesthesiologist, has been in practice for 20 years.

The book is written for patients. Every chapter is short and formatted as a question and answer. Chapter titles range from "Who's the person giving my anesthesia? Do credentials matter?" to "Is it possible to be awake during surgery?" At the end of every chapter, Sweeny neatly sums up his discussion in a few sentences. This format makes the book a compelling and reader-friendly reference manual. An extensive index is included.

Chapters that describe pediatric anesthesia are helpful and informative for parents who are worried about how their children will fare during surgery. Sweeny's knowledge of this subject is up-to-date, and he writes for a well-read audience; therefore, his vocabulary might be difficult for some readers. In the chapter, "Will the anesthesiologist be present and watch me throughout surgery?" the author is honest and open about negligence among his colleagues.

The book is easy to read and informative. I recommend it as a resource for patients who have questions about anesthesia. It also is helpful for nurses, who need to be familiar with this information so they can help allay patients' anxieties about anesthesia.

This book is available from Perseus Publishing, Eleven Cambridge Center, Cambridge MA 02142, http://www.perseuspublishing.com.

KEVIN KOSE

RN

STAFF NURSE

TUCSON HEART HOSPITAL

TUCSON

COPYRIGHT 2003 Association of Operating Room Nurses, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group