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Following on from the success of the international bestseller Key Questions in Cardiac Surgery, the long awaited Key Questions in Congenital Cardiac Surgery will be the latest book in the Key Questions series to be released. Key Questions in Congenital Cardiac Surgery will systematically cover all the main topics involved in the current practice of a congenital cardiac surgeon. It will incorporate current guidelines for practice (such as from the American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, British Paediatric Cardiac Association and European Society of Cardiology) and up-to-date information based on current literature. Each chapter will be structured to include the etiology, pathophysiology, clinical features, indications for surgery, peri-operative management, surgical options and postoperative care. Possible complications will be discussed and the results of current practice presented. Importantly, there will be a section on basic sciences related to the practising congenital cardiac surgeon and a further section on congenital cardiac investigations with many images illustrating the variety of pathologies. Each chapter will also contain important references for further reading and greater depth of knowledge. The data and body of knowledge presented in this book is strictly evidence-based and is relevant to all congenital cardiac surgical trainees, at any stage of their training programme. It will provide residents, fellows and specialist registrars the necessary information to carry out their daily duties. Congenital cardiologists and pediatric cardiac intensive care unit specialists will also find the book useful in terms of the indications and surgical management of these patients, as they are integral to the congenital cardiac surgical process. Another important group is the nursing staff, physiotherapists and other professions allied to medicine working with patients with congenital cardiac disease either pre-operatively or postoperatively, as it will help to give a detailed understanding of the principles surrounding congenital cardiac surgical disease. Most importantly, the book is ideal as a revision aid for residents/registrars undertaking their Cardiothoracic Surgery Board examinations around the world. Although these examinations vary in format in different countries, this book is applicable to all cardiothoracic surgical trainees. Its concise, yet complete coverage of the important topics, make it the ideal guide to answer the key questions in congenital cardiac surgery that are asked within the confines of an examination.

Modern science has shown that the widely held beliefs of clinicians about urinary tract infection (UTI) are wrong. A large body of meticulous, rigorous data, from different centres around the world makes this point. How can it be that doctors continue to practise in contradiction of what we now know? A few clinicians are now changing their approach with gratifying results so it is timely to encourage others to do likewise. Clinical guidelines have achieved such influence that most doctors feel compelled to follow them and may face censure if they do not. Regrettably the guidelines are mistaken and contradict the known science. The inertia of bureaucracy and the fear of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) do not help to encourage reflection. However, things are changing and the future should see new and better informed advice. It is a tragedy that these circumstances are leading to widespread suffering amongst many women, some men and children who experience untreated or inadequately treated infection that may plague them for years. This situation has to change. This book sets out the truth about this neglected field and explains the many errors that haunt the topic. The style makes the message accessible to all clinicians. The story is convincing, because the clinical stories that illustrate the text will be so familiar to practising clinicians, who have been baffled by their experiences. Above all, this book will help you and your patients by detailing an accessible, practical approach to resolving this difficult clinical problem in common practice. The scope of the book will cover: the history of the medicine of urinary tract infection (UTI); the urinary microbiome and what the microbes are really up to; the battles between the pathogens and the innate immune system; the truth about the tests and the criteria used to define UTI; antimicrobial resistance and the importance of Darwinian evolution; the science and ground-breaking research on UTIs; the use of antibiotics; successful treatment; supportive and other related treatments; ethics; the future; and, above all, the experiences of the patients. James Malone-Lee is an Emeritus Professor of Medicine at University College London (UCL). For 37 years as a clinical scientist at UCL he studied lower urinary tract symptoms. His research group made discoveries that challenged numerous strongly held beliefs about lower urinary tract disease, particularly infection. For many years this new knowledge was rejected by many, but in the wake of corroborative evidence from others around the world, this new thinking is becoming more widely accepted.

Surgery remains a challenge for young learners. Perhaps the most difficult of all surgeries are those done on the liver, biliary tree and pancreas. These organs are difficult to expose, difficult to operate and the patients are often difficult to recover. There are significant consequences for any missteps on what is a narrow pathway to a successful outcome.

The skills needed to master surgery on these organs are hard to acquire. The volume of information presented to students is enormous and complex to parse. HPB textbooks contain a large amount of information from various authors but are often poorly coordinated. Surgical manuals contain significant anatomic details and descriptions but have difficulty transferring key concepts. Experienced surgeons are often oblivious to their skills and communicate poorly to their students regarding the things they do or understand that make them wise. This book tries to capture this wisdom.

The topics in this book are most applicable to hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgeons but really extend to all general surgeons. Anyone who operates in the abdomen must have a basic understanding of these dominant organs; general surgery trainees and staff are an additional focus of this book. The skills needed for a modern surgeon to succeed are much broader than the scalpel tip. Section I, “HPB Surgical Craft”, imparts important lessons on the laws of human interactions and cognitive aspects of surgery. Sections on the anatomy and operations on the liver, pancreas and bile ducts are presented. The expanded gallbladder section and pancreatitis chapters are of particular importance to general surgery residents. This book has been written in a readable and entertaining style, with many fun historical and contemporary quotes dotted throughout.

The Wise Scalpel is an attempt to impart knowledge and understanding to students and practicing surgeons at all levels. The book focuses on tips, traps and underlying truths about the diseases of these organs and their surgical treatment. While this book will not supplant the struggle needed to move from novice to expert surgeon, hopefully it will quicken the process and help avoid some of the dangers and frustrations along the way.

Dr. Francis R. Sutherland is a Professor of Surgery at the University of Calgary. He has been a HPB and general surgeon for 30 years. He has broad experience training residents and fellows. He is a co-founder of the HPB Surgery Program for Southern Alberta and a co-founder of the Canadian HPB Association.

Dr. Chad G. Ball is a Clinical Professor of Surgery at the University of Calgary. He has been an active HPB and trauma surgeon since 2005. He is the current Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Journal of Surgery and Evidence-Based Reviews in Surgery Program.

Over ten percent of people infected with the COVID virus will suffer with long COVID syndrome. Up until now, more than one million people have been affected with this syndrome in the United Kingdom alone, and the incidence worldwide is estimated to be more than 35 million people, although this may be the tip of the iceberg. The World Health Organization has highlighted a need for the “three Rs” — Recognition, Research and Rehabilitation. Long COVID syndrome can be frustrating and disabling, even many months or years after the infection; sufferers complain of fatigue, pain, post-exertional malaise, cognitive dysfunction and many other systemic symptoms. It can be challenging for healthcare professionals to recognise the disease and for patients who are suffering from the condition it can have a wide and far-reaching impact on their lives and day-to-day activities. Being a relatively new condition, many healthcare professionals, now more than ever, need to have the requisite knowledge to recognise and manage this severely debilitating disease. This book will be useful to all frontline healthcare professionals to help diagnose, manage and direct patients to the available resources. General practitioners, physiotherapists, pain therapists, nurses, surgeons, physicians, junior doctors, psychologists, medical students and other clinicians will be able to update their knowledge on long COVID syndrome with this easy to read book. Patients will also find the book useful to understand the basis of the disease and how they can seek help. This comprehensive treatise covers a wide variety of topics on long COVID syndrome including the aetiopathogenesis, recognition, systemic involvement, investigations, guidelines on management, available resources, systemic management and pain/fatigue management. This book will be handy for candidates preparing for various examinations conducted by the Royal College of General Practitioners, UK (MRCGP), Royal College of Anaesthetists, UK (FRCA), Faculty of Pain Medicine, UK (FFPMRCA), College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland (FCAI), European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (EDAIC), Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (FANZCA), World Institute of Pain (FIPP/CIPS), National Board of Examinations of India (Dip NB), and the American and Canadian board examinations, as well as other examinations conducted by medical boards across the globe. The author is a consultant in pain medicine who has published extensively on various topics and specialises in treating long COVID patients. He has written many textbooks in the fields of anaesthesia and pain and conducts regular examination courses attended by candidates from all over the world. He is also a regular invited lecturer on the specialist subject of long COVID syndrome.