Inside ultrasound vascular reference guide

Written by Gail P Size, Laurier Lozanski and Troy Russo Edited by Eileen French-Sherry and Christopher L Smelly. ISBN-13: 978-0974769431. ISBN-10: 0974769436. Publisher: Davies Publishing Inc. RRP: US$169.95. The opening chapters on vascular anatomy and physiology are heavily illustrated with high-quality drawings and representative ultrasound images. Anatomic variants are also illustrated. Great care has been taken by the authors to present the text-based information, drawings and the related ultrasound images pertaining to each segment together either on the same or on facing pages. Chapter 3 on vascular diseases is organised alphabetically, is succinct, with just the right amount of information and is extensively referenced at the end of the chapter. Chapters in the midsection of the book are dedicated to vascular testing. Topics covered are cerebrovascular, arterial, venous and abdominal arterial testing. Each section is colour coded for ease of access. Subsections within each chapter include a definition of the test, aetiology, risk factors, indications, contraindications/limitations, disease location, mechanisms of disease, patient history, physical examination, examination protocols, interpretation and diagnostic criteria, differential diagnosis, test correlation, medical, surgical and endovascular treatments. A ‘Points to Remember’ section is a feature at the end of every chapter on vascular testing. Again, the illustrations, pathology graphics, diagnostic ultrasound and correlative testing images are of superior quality. Important points are emphasised in italics within carefully placed text boxes throughout the book. Tables summarising diagnostic criteria and examination protocols are used extensively throughout each chapter on testing. The tables are colour coded for quick recognition and are easy to interpret. References are included at the end of each section. Latter chapters of the reference guide cover the subjects of correlative testing modalities, image optimisation, vascular pharmacology, maths, statistics, ultrasound measurements and includes a particularly useful chapter dedicated to the cardiac effects on spectral Doppler. The Society for Vascular Ultrasound Glossary of Terms is also within this section. Throughout this reference guide, the author's attention to detail is obvious. The subject matter has been comprehensively covered and careful thought has been invested to ensure that the information is easily to hand and coherent. Consistency in formatting ensures that the reader intuitively knows where to look once familiar with the structure and style of the book. Tables and images are repeated throughout the text but not excessively. Any repetition is appropriately placed and thus avoids sending the reader elsewhere in the text. The embedded quick response codes worked seamlessly. At the time of review, no digital version of the Vascular Reference Guide was available. However, the authors state that a full ePub version is on the way. For those preparing for examinations, interested in self testing or revision, a companion workbook is also available. The guide has also been approved for 20 hours of SVU continuing medical education for an additional fee. In summary, this text was a pleasure to review. It is beautifully illustrated, and the sonographic images are of very high quality. Tables are relevant and effective. Coverage of the subject matter is comprehensive. The highly visual nature, spiral binding, size and layout ensure that this textbook is readily accessible. This is a reference guide that will live on the desk or bench in workplaces and will be used often for teaching, learning and as a quick aide-memoir. Inside Ultrasound's Vascular Reference Guide is recommended for clinicians at any level of experience who perform, are studying or who teach vascular ultrasound.