New O & G textbook

It is some time since there has been a new local textbook of obstetrics and gynaecology aimed at the undergraduate market. The editors of this book have considerable experience of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, and have collected a formidable group of local experts to provide a modern, evidence-based text which should be extremely useful to all undergraduates and fill a significant gap in the market. What is unusual about this new work is that it goes beyond the traditional boundaries of an undergraduate curriculum and covers many important aspects of women’s health. It will also be useful for postgraduate students, especially those studying for general practice qualifications or in the early years of specialist training.

The book is organised chronologically, by life stage, and takes a practical clinical approach by discussing typical presentations in a systematic way. Of note is the opening section that covers women’s health, which deals effectively with the interface between medicine and sociology. The chapter on the female child and adolescent contains a comprehensive coverage of clinical and legal issues for teenagers. Normal pregnancy, labour and birth and the postnatal period are all comprehensively dealt with. However, some aspects of the management of obstetric emergencies are not quite up to date with modern methods (eg, recommending diazepam for treating eclampsia). The book could also benefit from an expanded section on fetal monitoring in labour.

The book is well illustrated and contains many useful tables, which summarise the information given in each chapter. There are two style matters which some may find a little irritating. Firstly, the font, tables and illustrations are quite small, giving an overall impression of overcrowding. Secondly, all of the references (most of which are very recent) are given at the end of the book rather than at the end of each chapter. However, these are minor criticisms of what is otherwise an excellent new textbook that is great value for money and should become very popular.

David A EllwoodProfessor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology Canberra Hospital, ACT

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