Handbook of Colorectal Surgery PDF

Preface

How do you evaluate and treat constipation?

What type of bowel preparation is used to clean a patient's colon before an operative procedure?

What is the follow-up for colorectal cancer?

What are the indications for colonoscopy?

What are the options for treating hemorrhoids?

Questions such as these are frequently asked by residents, students, and nurses working in our colorectal surgery program. It was the number and range of these questions that provided the initial impetus for writing the first edition of this book. Despite the availability of several outstanding texts covering our specialty, there was no current, affordable manual to recommend to residents, nurses, and other members of our health care team seeking this kind of information. The answers to the questions posed above, and many more, were covered in the first edition of Handbook of Colorectal Surgery. Each medical specialty-and colon and rectal surgery is no exception-has seen new developments and knowledge.

The second edition continues to serve as a basic guide to the management of patients with colorectal diseases. Each chapter was reviewed and in many cases rewritten to present current concepts and recommendations. Key elements throughout the book are reinforced by the Rounds Questions following each chapter, and extensive updated references provide options for further study. The newest concepts in patient care and operative technique (such as laparoscopic surgery) are covered and profusely illustrated. The second edition of this handbook remains an ideal portable reference for residents, students, and nurses. Experienced surgeons will find this manual helpful in their training of residents and fellows, and it may serve as a stimulus for additional thought and research.

This book incorporates the collaborative efforts of many individuals. The contributors to the first edition did an excellent job, and their contributions served as a foundation for the updated second edition. Three of the original contributors have been retained and additional experts in specialized fields have lent their expertise. These talented and dedicated individuals are active in teaching medical students and residents and continue to shape the future of colorectal surgery. The illustrations were produced or review by Barbara Siede, Director of Ochsner Medical Illustrations, whose exceptional ability has clarified many difficult concepts. Marion R. Stafford, Director of Ochsner Medical Editing, and her staff, Rene´ M. Couvillion and Liana M. Tome, were instrumental in error correction and improving the readability of the text. My nurse, Andrea Thibodeaux, R.N., and clinic support staff assist me in patient management and helped me squeeze in time for these academic pursuits. Finally, my thanks to the staff of Marcel Dekker, Inc., who worked hard to make this second edition a reality.