Book Review: Going ‘Before the Scalpel’
September 6, 2009 by Liz Lewis
Filed under Book Reviews, Health, Surgery
Recently I had laser surgery done on my varicose veins. My specialist had given me the choice of having the veins stripped or lasered. What he didn’t realize was that to me there was no choice. I had no desire to be put under general anasthetic to have the veins stripped.
But for millions of people around the world, there is no choice. The surgery treatment they need requires them to have a general anesthetic (GA). And anyone who has to have a GA really should get all the facts before that happens. Unfortunately, that’s not always something they get from their doctor or other health professions.
This book ‘Before the Scalpel’, however, spells everything out in a clear and concise manner. Easy to read and with plenty of visual aids, it covers pretty much everything you need to know, including questions to ask your doctor.
Written by Professor Panchati Dhar, MD, board certified in internal medicine and anesthesiology, Before the Scalpel covers almost every situation, from special needs of obese patients to specialized surgeries such as dentistry, cosmetic, and obstetrics. It also addresses issues such as the diabetic and surgery.
It even provides descriptions and explanations of the anesthesia’s tools – the equipment, drugs, and instruments used to administer anesthesia – and a comprehensive glossary.
Definitely worth a read if you or someone in your family is surgery bound.
