The New York Times bestselling author of Better and Complications reveals the surprising power of the ordinary checklist. We live in a world of great and increasing complexity, where even the most expert professionals struggle to master the tasks they face. Longer training, ever more advanced technologies--neither seems to prevent grievous errors. But in a hopeful turn, acclaimed surgeon and writer Atul Gawande finds a remedy in the humblest and simplest of techniques: the checklist. First introduced decades ago by the U.S. Air Force, checklists have enabled pilots to fly aircraft of mind-boggling sophistication. Now innovative checklists are being adopted in hospitals around the world, helping doctors and nurses respond to everything from flu epidemics to avalanches. Even in the immensely complex world of surgery, a simple ninety-second variant has cut the rate of fatalities by more than a third. In riveting stories, Gawande takes us from Austria, where an emergency checklist saved a drowning victim who had spent half an hour underwater, to Michigan, where a cleanliness checklist in intensive care units virtually eliminated a type of deadly hospital infection. He explains how checklists actually work to prompt striking and immediate improvements. And he follows the checklist revolution into fields well beyond medicine, from disaster response to investment banking, skyscraper construction, and businesses of all kinds. An intellectual adventure in which lives are lost and saved and one simple idea makes a tremendous difference, The Checklist Manifesto is essential reading for anyone working to get things right.

In this issue of Atlas of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinics, guest editors Drs. Mark A. Miller and David M. Yates bring their considerable expertise to the topic of Common Procedures in Cleft and Craniofacial Surgery. Articles from top experts in the field include coverage of cleft lip surgery, different surgical approaches to craniosynostosis, and other craniofacial syndromes, as well as reconstruction and bone grafting. Contains 12 relevant, practice-oriented topics including primary cleft lip deformity; cleft nasal deformity; endoscopic approaches to craniosynostosis; open approaches to craniosynostosis; cranial deformities; and more. Provides in-depth clinical reviews on common procedures in cleft and craniofacial surgery, offering actionable insights for clinical practice. Presents the latest information on this timely, focused topic under the leadership of experienced editors in the field. Authors synthesize and distill the latest research and practice guidelines to create clinically significant, topic-based reviews.

When I first proposed this book, one of the hopes was that it would be the stage upon which would be conducted a quiet, well reasoned discussion of the various techniques of stereotactic radio surgery. At that time, there was quite a bit of rancorous debate that tended to obscure the scientific and medical merits of each of the separate methods. At the present time, I am happy to report that the field of stereotactic radiosurgery is much less riven by such inappropriate posturing. The field has taken many steps towards maturity, both technically and medically. In the course of this mat uration process, there have been many grandiose plans and speeches made on behalf of stereotactic radiosurgery. Inevitably, the reality will not live up to the hype, but such is the natural course of devel opment in these sorts of matters. However, even though events may not match our hopes, we should keep in mind the words of Herbert Parker. Recognizing that new modalities for the treatment of cancer do not stand much chance of revolutionary success, nevertheless, he quite correctly pointed out that " . . . with any type of radiatiQn, the margin between success and failure is small. If the chance of success is a little greater . . . thi might well be classed as a great advance. " Mark H."

The mechanical properties of whole bones, bone tissue, and the bone-implant interfaces are as important as their morphological and structural aspects. Mechanical Testing of Bone and the Bone-Implant Interface helps you assess these properties by explaining how to do mechanical testing of bone and the bone-implant interface for bone-related research.
Articles explore the basic mechanical principles of bone-related study and how to conduct mechanical testing of bone specimens. More practical than theoretical, the text includes 42 chapters in three sections that cover mechanical properties of bone, general considerations of mechanical testing, basic facilities and instruments for mechanical testing; mechanical testing procedures on bone tissues; and mechanical testing procedures on the implant-bone interface. There are approximately three hundred illustrations, including line drawings, diagrams, tables, and photographs.
Mechanical Testing of Bone and the Bone-Implant Interface is the most concise, straightforward, and in-depth treatment ever to be published - long needed by the orthopedic and bone research communities.

Surgery for the treatment of deformities such as scoliosis carries a small but significant risk of damage to the spinal cord through inadvertent compression or interference with the blood supply. Electrophysiological techniques, principally those for recording sensory and motor evoked potentials, offer a means of continuously assessing the conduction of nerve signals up and down the spinal cord and hence the possibility of detecting a defect at an early stage, when the cause may be reversible. This form of monitoring is now accepted practice in many countries. The main contributors to the Handbook are surgeons, neurophysiologists and anaesthetists at the forefront of research. From the United States, where practice has been most widespread, come the results of the first large-scale, multi-centre survey into monitoring methods and their effectiveness. The research papers forming the remainder of the text provide an indication of the high level of current interest and the likely direction of future developments.

On July 1, 2003, work-hour reforms were enacted nationally for the roughly 129,000 resident physicians in the United States. The reforms limit weekly work hours (a maximum of eighty per week) and in-hospital call (no more than once every three nights), mandate days free of clinical and educational obligations (one day in seven), and regulate other aspects of resident work life. Why Surgeons Struggle with Work-Hour Reforms focuses on general surgeons, a historically long-hour specialty, who fiercely opposed the reforms and are among the least compliant. Why do surgeons struggle with the reforms? Why do they continue to work long hours and view the act of doing so as reasonable if not quintessentially professional? Although the analysis is situated in the growing scientific literature on the consequences of fatigue, the authors do not adjudicate between the claims of surgeons and reform advocates about the effects of long work hours on patient or provider safety. Rather, the aim is to explore and explain how aspects of the occupational culture of surgeons and the social organization of surgical training and practice interlock to impede the reforms.

Dupuytren's Disease: A Scientific Review offers consolidated, up-to-date coverage of both the basic normal (nonpathologic) science and cutting-edge science of this progressive disorder. Drs. Lawrence C. Hurst, Marie A. Badalamente, and David Edward Komatsu break down the complex topic of Dupuytren's contracture into its basic scientific components. Hand surgeons, plastic surgeons, and orthopaedic surgeons will find this unique, concise title to be especially helpful in their practices. Includes chapters on prevalence of Dupuytren's disease, normal genetics and the genetic abnormalities associated with Dupuytren's disease, and collagen and collagen synthesis in healthy fascia and Dupuytren's disease. Provides numerous illustrations throughout. Contains an in-depth bibliography and a useful, complete glossary of related terms. Consolidates today's available information on Dupuytren's science into a single, convenient resource.

Since the publication of the first edition, there have been advances in both the diagnosis and the management of many of the cholestatic liver diseases. Cholestatic Liver Disease, Second Edition thoroughly updates the topics previously addressed, such as primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and cholestatic variants of drug hepatotoxicity and viral disease. New treatments, such as the development of the farnesoid X receptor agonists for the treatment of PBC, are highlighted. Current guidelines and areas of uncertainty are also covered. Additionally, new chapters have been added to reflect the changing landscape of cholestatic liver disease. Cholestatic Liver Disease, Second Edition is a concise yet comprehensive summary of the current status of the field and is of value to clinicians and researchers interested in patients with cholestatic liver disease provide that will help to guide patient management and stimulate investigative efforts.

This practical guide is a compendium of contemporary views on the development, treatment, and prevention of urinary stone disease. Emphasis is placed on utilizing current research to highlight areas of potential discovery and inspire novel approaches to easing the burden of urinary stone disease.

This comprehensive report on sight correction through laser surgery provides the practitioner with solid background information from top industry researchers. Carefully illustrated, it details the latest techniques and clinical results in wavefront technology for laser surgery, which is now defining a new standard of practice. This second edition has been significantly expanded to include in-depth descriptions of important new advances as well as glimpses of what the future holds. The book will be indispensable to all wishing to expand their knowledge of customized refractive surgery with an understanding of the underpinning technology.

Each year approximately two million people who are burned require medical treatment. Seventy thousand require hospitalization, and nine thousand die from their injuries. "Coping StrategieS" provides the burn patient and his/her family a unique source of information and insight on the effects of disfigurement, sexuality, cosmetics, prosthetics, coping with stress, anxiety and guilt, and about employment strategies. These topics are addressed by professionals and survivors and parents of survivors--uniting all points of view and making this work important reading.

This issue of Surgical Clinics of North America focuses on Endoscopy and is edited by Drs. John Rodriguez and Jeffrey L. Ponsky. Articles will include: History of Flexible Endoscopy; Quality Measures in Diagnostic Endoscopy; Endoscopic Equipment from Simple to Advanced; Endoscopic Ultrasound; Polypectomy Techniques; Endoscopic Mucosal Resection; Enteral Access; Advanced Colonic Polypectomy; Principles of Intramural Surgery; Per Oral Esophageal Myotomy; Per Oral Pyloromyotomy; Per Oral Zenker's Diverticulotomy; Submucosal Tunneling Esophageal Resection; Endoscopic Management of Pancreato-biliary Disease; Endoscopic Management of Post-Operative Complications; and more!

Brilliant, volatile and invariably male, the surgeon stereotype is a widespread and instantly recognisable part of western culture. Setting out to anatomise this stereotype, Cold, hard steel offers an exciting new history of modern and contemporary British surgery. The book draws on archival materials and original interviews with surgeons, analysing them alongside a range of fictional depictions, from the Doctor in the House novels to Mills & Boon romances and the pioneering soap opera Emergency Ward 10. Presenting a unique social, cultural and emotional history, it sheds light on the development and maintenance of the surgical stereotype and explains why it has proved so enduring. At the same time, the book explores the more candid and compassionate image of the surgeon that has begun to emerge in recent years, revealing how a series of high-profile memoirs both challenge the surgical stereotype and simultaneously confirm it. -- .

A concise and convenient pocket guide to interventional cardiology's latest procedures and technologies Interventional cardiology is growing more and more integral to the modern-day management of cardiovascular problems. Indeed, trainees are taught interventional methods as a matter of course. With a widening range of options open to them, however, the practicing cardiologist must be diligent and discerning when selecting the appropriate course of action for each patient, adapting their strategy as circumstance demands. Developing the skills and experience necessary to make these key judgments can be a challenging and lengthy process. Bringing together the knowledge of an international group of over 50 experts, this fifth edition of the Practical Handbook of Advanced Interventional Cardiology helps cardiologists of all levels to find interventional solutions to a wide range of problems. Its revised contents cover topics including new devices, valve procedures, and venous and atrial occlusion, and also feature new chapters on bioresorbable vascular scaffolds, protected percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary atherectomy, pulmonary embolism, and more. This essential companion: Offers clear, easy-to-follow guidance for cardiology practitioners of all levels of skill and experience Grades each strategic or tactical action by level of complexity Includes full-color clinical images and illustrations Covers all key interventional procedures and techniques Provides practical tips and tricks for handling difficult clinical scenarios and complications The Practical Handbook of Advanced Interventional Cardiology is an invaluable resource for both practitioners and trainees in interventional cardiology and all related areas of cardiovascular medicine.

This issue of Emergency Medicine Clinics, guest edited by Drs. Michael C. Bond and Arun Sayal, focuses on Orthopedic Emergencies. This is one of four issues each year selected by the series consulting editor, Dr. Amal Mattu. Articles in this issue include, but are not limited to: Emergency Medicine Orthopedic Assessment: Pearls/Pitfalls; Emergency Orthogeriatrics: Concepts and Therapeutic Considerations for the Elderly Patient; Pediatric Orthopedic Emergencies; The Emergent Evaluation and Treatment of Hand and Wrist Injuries; The Emergent Evaluation and Treatment of Elbow and Forearm Injuries; The Emergent Evaluation and Treatment of Shoulder, Clavicle and Humerus Injuries; The Emergent Evaluation and Treatment of Pelvic, Hip and Femur Injuries; The Emergent Evaluation and Treatment of Knee and Leg Injuries; The Emergent Evaluation and Treatment of Ankle and Foot injuries; The Emergent Evaluation and Treatment of Neck and Back Pain; Risk Management and Avoiding Legal Pitfalls in the Emergency Treatment of High-Risk Orthopaedic Injuries; Sports Medicine Update: Mild Traumatic Head Injury; Pain Management for Orthopaedic Injuries; and Ultrasound Imaging in Orthopaedic Injuries.

The success of an operation depends not only on careful dures with direct visualisation techniques. Special inst- clarification of the indications, selection of the right time ments are only used for one specific purpose; a surgical for operating and technically neat operating techniques, needle today has its own anatomy. In addition, these but also on correct preoperative preparation and positio- aspects are joined by stricter safety conditions, increased ning of the patient. But this aspect in particular is fre- demands made by patients, with the threat of legal con- quently neglected, particularly by young surgeons, becau- quences if something should go wrong in terms of "nihil se technical details of the operation assume far greater nocere" ... attention, underestimating the contribution made by op- We have therefore made an attempt to illustrate a p- timum positioning to a time-saving operation which runs cedure which has proven successful over many years at the as perfectly as possible. How easy is it for an operation to Medical University Hannover. This does not mean that develop complications out of all proportion because the there are not other appropriate or even better suited surgeon forgot certain "minor matters" during preparati- procedures for specific situations, which would ideally ons! Anyone who has witnessed this themselves will ap- supplement the procedure described here. We felt it was preciate just how important exact preoperative planning important to describe safe, practical positioning tech- and preparation is before an operation takes place. ques to simplify each specific operation.

"Compensating for Quasi-periodic Motion in Robotic Radiosurgery" outlines the techniques needed to accurately track and compensate for respiratory and pulsatory motion during robotic radiosurgery. The algorithms presented within the book aid in the treatment of tumors that move during respiration.
In Chapters 1 and 2, the book introduces the concept of stereotactic body radiation therapy, motion compensation strategies and the clinical state-of-the-art. In Chapters 3 through 5, the author describes and evaluates new methods for motion prediction, for correlating external motion to internal organ motion, and for the evaluation of these algorithms' output based on an unprecedented amount of real clinical data. Finally, Chapter 6 provides a brief introduction into currently investigated, open questions and further fields of research.
"Compensating for Quasi-periodic Motion in Robotic Radiosurgery" targets researchers working in the related fields of surgical oncology, artificial intelligence, robotics and more. Advanced-level students will also find this book valuable."

The aim of this open access book is to provide a unique, timely, critical and comprehensive compilation of more than 30 years of robust international experimental and clinical research related to the basic science and therapeutic application of water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA) and hyperthermia in oncology, psychiatry (depression), musculoskeletal disorders, dermatology, infectiology, and surgery. This is an internationally absolutely unique attempt which publication is timely and of great interest in medical as well as in natural sciences. The aim is to enhance communication and advance the use of heat therapy for patient benefit, and to generate an environment in which anyone with an interest in hyperthermia can discuss, collaborate, network, and share events and resources. Productive dialogue and discussion among scientists and practitioners on issues relating to hyperthermia therapy is essential, especially relating to thermal transmission by water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA). The specificity and advantage of this technology is its tolerance by tissue, and its penetration of up to 3 cm allows the delivery of high heat dosages that are relevant across multiple clinical indications. Currently, wIRA is being applied in Austria, Germany, Portugal, Switzerland, The Netherlands, UK and the USA. The authors' hope is that its use will increase in these countries, and also expand into others. This book will be an invaluable tool for oncologists, surgeons, dermatologists as well as physiotherapists.

Peyronie's Disease: A Guide to Clinical Management is the first comprehensive book on this prevalent disorder in adult men (estimated range from 5-9 per cent) designed to clarify misconceptions and myths, provide an update on the etiology, pathophysiology and current research, provide useful information for clinical practice and hopefully stimulate further research into understanding the pathophysiology of this devastating problem. There will also be extensive attention to the current medical and surgical treatments with detail on surgical technique.