Münster Medical Students’ Association, January 3, 2009

Author: Matthias Hofer
Edition: 1st
Publisher: DIDAMED
ISBN: 978-3-938103-30-2
Price: 29.95
Number of pages: 192 pages, over 1,000 illustrations
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Reviewer: Münster Medical Students’ Association
Date of review: January 3, 2009

Contents

The book is primarily intended for students in their clinical rotation/practical year as well as for resident physicians in the early years of their residency training. The various puncture techniques described in detail should be of particular interest to those working in the field of anesthesia and critical care medicine, as these disciplines place a greater emphasis on puncture techniques and related procedures.

A total of 28 individual chapters explain various practical skills, some of them step by step; these are divided among the book’s 6 subchapters: Sterile techniques, explanations of technical equipment (infusions, perfusors), measurement techniques (e.g., central venous catheter, ECG, blood pressure measurement), puncture techniques (from blood draws to pleural puncture), catheters, catheters & drains (including central venous catheters, arterial catheters, and nasogastric tubes), and a special chapter on “complex techniques” (e.g., intubation, cricothyrotomy, resuscitation, and lumbar puncture).

The individual techniques are described, organized by indication, contraindications (if any), possible complications, preparation, and procedure.

Didactics

The step-by-step introduction to the individual tasks is skillfully supported by instructional materials, including detailed (photo) illustrations and schematic diagrams—totaling more than 1,000 images and photos. The detailed notes on typical and common mistakes are very helpful, clearly highlighting many potential—and, unfortunately, frequent—pitfalls. By explaining individual steps, the book aims to achieve the greatest possible practical relevance, even though, of course, the static format of a book can only illustrate more complex sequences of movements to a limited extent. The DIN A4 format likely was chosen to accommodate a certain minimum size for illustrations; while it may be a bit too large to fit in a lab coat pocket, it is well-suited for careful preparation and follow-up in everyday clinical practice or at a desk at home.

Value for the Money

The book retails for 29.95 euros, which places it toward the lower end of the price range, given its detailed and richly illustrated coverage of practical activities. In terms of value for the money, it’s definitely a worthwhile purchase.

Conclusion

This book is certainly well worth reading, especially for aspiring anesthesiologists or students doing their clinical rotations in this field; however, the chapter on local anesthesia, “Suture Techniques and Wound Closure” are, in my (rather surgical) view, still a bit too brief, as is the discussion of urinary catheterization. Unfortunately, neurological examination techniques are not mentioned at all, nor are dressing and casting techniques.

All in all, no book can truly replace a clinically experienced instructor; however, experience shows that such instructors are often in short supply in everyday practice for various reasons, and unfortunately, far too often, for example, a student in their clinical rotation ends up supervising a clinical student, or the “watch once, then do it yourself” approach is used. Thus, “doc’s coach” can provide solid foundational preparation for a wide variety of practical tasks, ensuring you’re well-prepared for everyday clinical practice—for example, when you’re told, “Go ahead and suture that laceration in Room 3.”In everyday clinical practice, this is a book that no ward should be without, as it ensures a well-founded and structured training in practical skills.