Acute Intestinal Obstruction

Addressed particularly to English physicians, this small volume affords an excellent review of present day concepts of the treatment of intestinal obstruction. There is little that is original in this volume. The various technics of intestinal intubation, fluid balance and protein replacement and the use of radiography are stressed. Considerable emphasis is placed on chemotherapy. A fuller account of blood chemical changes would be of value, stressing the advantage of such determinations in assessing the status of the patient at any time. The author advocates early surgery in obstruction of the large intestine and points out the significance of a competent ileocecal valve (he still regards it as a sphincter). The therapy of small bowel obstructions with adequate analysis of pathology and classification of varieties is well described. The illustrations are useful and the style is somewhat effusive, but the contents of this book are of value to surgeons.