Book Review

Edited by Tom Doherty & Alexander Valverde , Blackwell Publishing Ltd , 2006 , 376pp , £49.50 (paperback), ISBN 1405129670

The stated aim of the Manual of Equine Anesthesia and Analgesia is to provide a useful clinical guide for those involved in the hazardous business of equine anaesthesia. A total of 23 chapters serve to cover all aspects of equine anaesthesia in bulleted note form. Where some authors use this format to its full advantage, conveying much information in a simple way, in parts of this book it leads to a loss of detail in some of the chapters. In part, the book suffers from the multi-author approach with discrepancy in coverage for different areas and a loss of some valuable information, which may have been of worth to the equine practitioner.

The customary chapters associated with equine anaesthesia are included. The basic physiology chapter provides an excellent starting point, taking on a concise and logical approach, which is easily comprehensible. The inclusion of chapters covering assisted recoveries and partial intravenous anaesthesia reflects the evolution in the approach to equine anaesthesia. The ‘multimodal’ approach to anaesthesia is heavily emphasised throughout and the chapter dealing with this technique provides the practitioner with several approaches, although it does not put forward the relative benefits of each technique. As there are no references included, there is no direction for obtaining further information. Analgesia, in particular local anaesthetic techniques, is well covered and is highlighted with several clear, explanatory diagrams.

The value of this book as a quick reference manual is questionable. Although navigation through the book is easy, it is difficult to cross-reference selected subjects. Some topics are easily located and questions rapidly answered and conversely others are not. There is inconsistency regarding the threshold for treatment of hypotension in different areas of the book, whilst the indications for intermittent positive pressure ventilation are not always clear.

The book will undeniably provide a further source of information for those involved in equine anaesthesia and will be of value to both veterinary students and equine practitioners. Those wishing to specialise in this field will find the book a good foundation but may be left wanting to know more.