Anesthesiology by Forty American Authors

This symposium of North American teaching and opinion on the art and practice of anesthesia stresses safety in administering anesthetics. In the foreword, Dr. R. S. Dinsmore urges surgeons to take their share of responsibility for some of the anesthetic difficulties, because frequently these difficulties are due to unreasonable demands for complete relaxation. He states: "These demands may result in complete relaxation not only of the abdominal wall, but the heart muscle and the cerebral vessels as well.... Advances in anesthesia cannot be claimed unless morbidity and mortality rates are constantly being lowered." This book begins with concise discussions of physiology and pharmacology in anesthesia and concludes with chapters on resuscitation, inhalation therapy, blood and blood substitutes, anesthesia records, and explosions and fire hazards. There are also chapters on various anesthetic agents and methods, selection of the anesthetic, preanesthetic preparation and medication, management of anesthesia for various types of patients