It is with great pleasure and, much interest that I accepted to write the foreword to this book by Paul Doury, Yves Dirheimer, and Serge Pattin on the subject of "algodystrophy." First, because I know the extent of their personal experience, from which they have selected the best for this book. Second, because it seemed to me that their detailed analysis of the numerous works on the subject, works which have been published all over the world and which provide diverse physiopathologic interpretations, would provide a comprehensive study meeting a real need. Algodystrophy, to adopt the term used by the authors, merits rheumatolog ists' careful attention. It is indeed a frequent condition and, as is now well known, occurs in the most varied etiologic circumstances; it is not solely posttraumatic, a notion on which diagnosis had long been based. This variable etiology suggests the complexity of algodystrophy's pathogenic mechanism."

Texto claro, conciso y completo cuyo autor es una enfermera con una amplia experiencia profesional en el area asistencial y docente, que permite en este libro mostrarnos un enfoque integrado de los contenidos farmacologicos con enfasis en las aplicaciones clinicas de interes a la enfermeria. Presentacion atractiva, que hace uso de cuadros y tablas que hacen mas claro y didactico el contenido del libro. El proposito es ofrecer una vision de la farmacologia con sentido practico, aplicando el "Proceso de Enfermeria," pero sustentado sobre una base cientifica explicada de una forma sencilla; fortaleciendo practicas seguras en la administracion de medicamentos, la monitorizacion de los efectos farmacologicos esperados como los adversas e indeseados, explicitando las medidas de precaucion en situaciones generales y especificas y los contenidos educativos en cada caso que debe entregarse a los pacientes.