Blood transfusion and blood banking

sacrificed a lot of his leisure time to the preparation of this book and it deserves to become the logical successor to Physics for the anaesthetist by Sir Robert McIntosh. I can highly recommend it to anaesthetists of all grades, theatre and intensive care technicians and nurses. It is a pleasure to receive this book for review and I cannot imagine that any orthopaedic specialist would think otherwise. Professor Hughes and the publishers have amply fulfilled their remit in selecting, from established experts in their fields, a wide spectrum in current orthopaedic operative technology. That super-specialisation is inevitable is well demonstrated and it would be virtually impossible for any reader to evaluate each and every chapter critically from personal experience. Some chapters may even incur frank hostility! That each team of orthopaedic surgeons (and we do work in teams) will require a copy is certain. It will be simply devoured by those in training with an appetite for further knowledge and innovative technology. The layout and standard of production is excellent, with a slight lapse in proofreading at the word 'neoplasm'. The diagrams relating to operative technique are exceptionally clear and pleasing, the radiographs only occasionally indistinct, and clinical photographs are restricted, as (though restful to readers) they are seldom instructive. This excellent and varied collection of specialist articles is well worth the price and will find its way on to many individual bookshelves and into every departmental orthopaedic reading room-my own copy is already on its way there. PO Blood transfusion and blood banking. During the past few years there has been a very marked change in the pattern of blood transfusion therapy. Thus, whereas requirements for red cells have remained fairly constant, the usage of various blood components has increased enormously. The many developments in blood component therapy are well reflected in this volume of Clinics in haematology. The book comprises a series of review articles, mostly of North American authorship but also including a substantial input from the U.K. Most of the articles are directed towards haematologists and transfusion specialists, so that transfusion support in haematological malignancies, congenital coagulation disorders and haemolytic anaemias are each very fully covered by well established experts. Major omissions include the management of haemorrhage, acquired coagulation disorders and transfusion support of intensive care patients. Some parts will be of interest outside haematology and in this respect I particularly enjoyed the chapter on …