Book Review: Modern Hospital: International Planning Practices

Intestinal Stomas. I P Todd (ed) pp 215 £8.50 London: Heinemann Medical 1978 This is an admirable and relatively inexpensive short book in which Mr Todd has collected the views and experience of many authorities each of whom has had special experience in the construction or management of all forms of intestinal stoma. Every aspect of stoma management is considered, from surgical technique to the types of appliance that are available and also the management of the personal problems. It is difficult to disagree with any of the advice given in this book. With so many authors contributing to a relatively short book it is interesting to reflect on how much more persuasive some writers are than others. This is particularly brought home after reading Mr Stanley Aylett's chapter on colostomy care by the irrigation technique. Having read this chapter I have no doubt that if I had a colostomy this is the way I would manage it. Perhaps the only disappointing section is the chapter on that recent and very interesting development, the so-called continent magnetic colostomy. It seems to me to be a pity that so much time is spent in explaining the physical properties of the magnets and so little space given to the results obtained with this technique. This, however, is a minor criticism of an excellent book which should be read by all who have any dealings with patients unfortunate enough to need a stoma. JWPGUMMER Consultant Surgeon Central MiddlesexHospital Cerebrovascular Diseases T R Price & E Nelson (ed) pp 424 $38.35 New York: Raven Press 1979 The conference whose proceedings are here very fully' transcribed took place in March 1978; congratulations are due to the editors and publishers for the relatively prompt appearance of this finely produced and modestly priced book. A number of the thirty or so papers are reviews rather than reports of original work. This apparently curious fact is probably explained by the seniority ofmany of the speakers at the conference. However, it does mean that the familiar problem of lack of currency of congress material is to a certain extent overcome. A major virtue ofthe book is its multidisciplinary approach. The section on brain oedema, for example, is largely concerned with pathology, that on 'in vivo mapping' with radiological and pararadiological techniques, while an essentially clinical section on treatment of transient ischaemic attacks includes invited comment from a medical statistician. The latter section, concerning the Canadian cooperative study, also has an independent medical assessment of the original work, extended discussion, a summary and a reply to that summary, the whole being of considerable interest. This same varied viewpoint may render the volume as a whole of lesser interest to specialist workers in anyone aspect of cerebrovascular disease, but it can be strongly recommended as an up-to-date review of certain aspects of one of the commonest, most disabling and, even today, one of the least well managed ofneurological disorders. IFMOSELEY Consultant Neuroradiologist The National Hospital. Queen Square