Textbook of Hyperbaric Medicine

Military Medicine, Dec 2004 by Little, Thomas N

Textbook of Hyperbaric Medicine

K.K. Jain

Hogrefe & Huber

This 4th revised and expanded edition is a standard textbook in hyperbaric medicine with a list of contributors who are recognized as the subject matter experts within the field. The text includes the forward of all of the previous editions, thus providing a historical continuity of developments in hyperbaric medicine.

The table of contents is arranged in three sections: Part I: Basic Aspects, Part II: Clinical Applications and Part III: Appendix, Bibliography, and Index. Of particular concern is the statement in the forward by Professor James F. Toole, who states "this solid foundation is described comprehensively and clearly within this outstanding text, in which the assembled experts provide a fair and balanced summary of the literature and evidence".

After presenting a concise history of hyperbaric medicine the author proceeds to discuss specific clinical entities amenable to treatment with the application of the principles of the general gas laws, cellular physiology, and micro anatomical considerations. The author also states that the book deals with hyperbaric medicine as opposed to dive medicine.

Each chapter is preceded by a very short description of what will be discussed and a detailed text follows with a short but comprehensive conclusion. Within each chapter there are easy to read and concise tables, figures, charts, color photographs, and various diagnostic imaging. Each is amply supplied with appropriate explanations. Where appropriate, specific case illustrations are given to enhance the readability of the text. The manner in which the chapters are organized allows for fairly easy reading of what could be an otherwise laborious task.

Of particular concern to military physicians and war casualty planners is the reference to the use of hyperbaric medicine for the treatment of battlefield casualties. Specific examples were given wherein the Soviet forces used hyperbaric medicine to treat battle casualties in its war in Afghanistan, and more recently its use in Croatia as recent as 1995. Since the Soviets used hyperbaric medicine to treat chemical casualties, serious thought should be considered for a similar use in the treatment of victims of chemical casualties in the war on terrorism.

The last chapter discusses hyperbaric medicine around the globe and there are very comprehensive inclusions of an appendix, a bibliography and an index. A review of the citations reveals both current and historical reference material and includes numerous research topics.

Overall, I rate this as an extremely valuable update of a previous classic text in hyperbaric medicine. This textbook should be available, as a reference, in any institution dealing with patients presenting with conditions amenable to hyperbaric medicine treatment approaches. It is also a "must have" in the armamentarium of providers of hyperbaric medicine.

Reviewed by

Col. Thomas N. Little, USAR, MC, FS, (Ret)

Germantown, Tennessee