Successful outcome from surgery does not come about because of a surgeon’s encyclopaedic knowledge of surgical conditions, nor from his or her masterly ability as a technical operator, although both of these components surely contribute. Good outcome is the result of multiple factors within a team framework, all contributing to the end result of surgery. Implicit within these constituents is the close relationship between the surgeon and the anaesthetist and the understanding each has of the complexities and difficulties with which the other might have to contend throughout the period of an operation, which includes the pre- and post-operative phases.

This book serves to inform surgeons of the intricacies and minutiae of anaesthesia in all aspects, ranging from day care local anaesthesia to cardiac bypass techniques. It is comprehensive and yet eminently readable and informative. The early chapters on basic physiology, combined with later chapters on fluids and commonly used drugs and dosages are fundamental to any trainee or practising surgeon and are beautifully composed. To miss these gems would be akin to ignoring the basic science lectures that are so important in the understanding of all medicine and surgery.

Subsequent chapters relate to specialty specific surgical fields and are particularly interesting and suitably detailed. In addition, there are chapters on associated subjects such as enhanced recovery, post-operative cognitive dysfunction and medico-legal aspects of consent. The editors have gone to considerable trouble to find authors with the specific knowledge and interests to produce a concise and yet wide-ranging book, which leaves the surgical reader admirably informed about his or her colleague’s armamentarium of anaesthetic approaches, potential pitfalls and rescue strategies.