Principles of Critical Care: PreTest Self-Assessment and Review, edited by Jesse B. Hall, Gregory A. Schmidt, and Lawrence D. H. Wood, 239 pp, with illus, $38, ISBN 0-07-051984-6, New York, NY, McGraw-Hill Publishing Co, 1991.
As the field of critical care medicine has expanded, so too have the number of available texts providing comprehensive review of this multidisciplinary specialty. Having previously reviewed Intensive Care Medicine by Rippe et al (second edition), I appreciated the opportunity to compare these two texts.
A number of criticisms of Rippe's text were addressed by this University of Chicago Medical Center—based group. For instance, the index appears to have been expanded and cross-referenced aggressively. In addition, a very nice overview of hyperbaric medicine and a chapter on diving medicine are featured. A detailed section on perioperative transesophageal echocardiography is included with clear pictures of actual images. Representative anatomical models appear next to these screens for