The 23rd volume of this highly successful series includes new contemporary topics such as PET in HPB diseases, short gut syndrome, current status of extended lymphadenectomy in esophageal cancer, splenectomy for haematological disorders, postoperative liver failure, HIPEC, and current issues in surgery of pancreatic cancer. Finally, the chapter on advances in GI surgery, like in each volume in the past, reviews the important new developments in the field. The GI Surgery Annual 23rd Volume provides an overall round up of selected topics that are considered relevant and contemporary by the editors of the series.

The twenty-sixth volume of GI Surgery Annual includes chapters on current and upcoming topics in gastrointestinal surgery pertaining to cholangiopancreatoscopy, robotic liver resections and transplants, primary familial intrahepatic cholestasis, managing a patient after total pancreatectomy, transplant immunology and immunosuppression as well as the chapter on advances in gastrointestinal surgery. The authors have expertise and excellent academic track record in the relevant subspecialties. Marrying academic excellence with publishing expertise is going to be the new mantra for the present as well as the upcoming issues of GI Surgery Annual.

All surgeons are convinced that they provide the best possible care to their patients and fortunately most patients are happy with their surgeons. Where safety and quality were once considered to be self-evident, these issues need to be made more explicit in modern surgery. Doctors and the general public alike are nowadays more aware of the variations in quality that exist among surgeons and institutions and of the unwarranted harmful effects surgery can have. Super- or sub-specialization seems one way to improve both its quality and safety. Surgical Gastroenterology or Gastrointestinal Surgery is one of these new superspecialties. The path towards this specialization is not easy and turf battles between General Surgery and Surgical Gastroenterology are still being fought. Professor Kaushik recounts the history and development of this superspecialty in India. He recounts that although the history of Surgical Gastroenterology in this country is short, its future is bright but, as has happened in other countries, its further division into organ-based superspecialties can be expected. ‘Practice makes one perfect’ is the motto that is probably true for the high-risk surgery which is still being performed in small institutions or by surgeons with only little expertise. The inverse correlation between volume and outcome expressed as mortality and morbidity has been shown all over the world. Wouters et al systematically analyze the literature covering this topic. They also show that concentration and regionalization do not automatically lead to an improved quality of surgery, since other issues for quality assurance are of equal importance, such as adherence to evidence-based guidelines, feedback, and monitoring. Despite all the inputs in training and instruction by experts, a uniformly high quality of surgery is hard to achieve in day-to-day gastrointestinal surgery. Sudhir Joseph and his colleagues show that a dedicated checklist can save lives and reduce postoperative morbidity in many countries with different systems and levels of healthcare. A similar beneficial effect was found in The Netherlands using a more comprehensive checklist that covers the whole period of the hospital stay. The new type of surgeon is aware of the principles of evidence-based medicine and he/she will challenge the dogmas of the ‘old’ surgery. Over the years our surgical masters have told us about the importance of good pre-operative and postoperative care for our patients. The bowel should be put at rest before operation and oral feeding restored only slowly after surgery starting with nothing by mouth to sips of clear water. Bed rest was essential for recovery. He introduced the ERAS (Enhanced Recovery after Surgery) strategy also named Fast Track Surgery. Mitchell et al provide ample evidence that all surgeons should adopt the ERAS strategy. Implementation of this will lead to better and more cost-effective operations.

The 25th volume of this highly successful series covers a range of interesting topics, including biological therapy in inflammatory bowel disease, recent surgical approaches in rectal cancer, tumor markers in HPB and GI malignancies, bridging therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma, adjuncts to liver resection, IgG-related HPB diseases, ERCP-induced perforations and superior mesenteric artery syndrome. As in the previous volumes, the chapter on advances in GI surgery reviews the important new developments in the field. The GI Surgery Annual 25th Volume provides up-to-date information on current hot topics.

This bestselling Oxford Handbook has been thoroughly revised for the new edition to include brand new chapters on Paediatric Orthopaedics and Common Surgical Procedures, as well as new presentations, illustrations, and new anatomy and emergency indexes to aid quick reference. It is an invaluable tool for junior surgical trainees, medical students, nursing, paramedical, and rehabilitation staff. The handbook covers the assessment and preparation of the patient, anaesthesia and critical care, inflammation, wound healing and infection, and the key components of general surgical practice, as well as chapters on other surgical specialties, including plastic, paediatric, and orthopaedic surgery. There are step-by-step descriptions of common operative surgical techniques, practical hints and procedures, and information on signs, symptoms and rarities. Emergency presentations are clearly identified for rapid reference and investigations and management plans are set out in a clear and easy-to-follow way. Surgically relevant anatomy and physiology has been expanded for each area, quick reference symbols ensure the reader is guided to key facts, and there is an increased focus on evidence-based practice with key references throughout. A cut above the rest, this is the essential guide to clinical surgery and the surgical specialities.

Almost 30 years have gone by since the postulation that GISTs derive from mesenchymal stem elements, and only 15 years have gone by since the definitive detection of origin of GISTs. Research in the last decade was more focused upon the justification of imatinib mezylate therapy in GISTs and clarification why a secondary resistance that occurred during the kinase inhibitors therapy. The era of therapy for GISTs, targeting the primary activating mutations in the KIT proto-oncogene; is being proclaimed as bringing the message of special importance to the pathologist role in multidisciplinary team that are responsible for treating patients with locally advanced or metastatic GIST. This is the first conclusive message forthcoming from this book. On the other hand, the book provides summarised and case-based knowledge on current management of gastrointestinal and extragastrointestinal stromal tumours. We hope that this book may be considered as a worthwhile timely addition to clinical science dissemination, medical education, further basic and clinical research.

Medicine, in terms of both disease pattern and therapeutic practices, shows tremendous geographical variation. Data and recommendations from different socioeconomic settings may not correctly reflect picture at home. There is no existing book devoted to the discipline of tropical hepatogastroenterology from India and this book fulfills this need. It emphasizes on medical management of hepatic and gastric diseases relevant to the tropics. The strength of this book is greater focus on practical management of gastrointestinal diseases in the tropics. It is edited by Dr BN Tandon, who is regarded as the Father of Tropical Gastroenterology in India. The book is divided into ten parts: esophagus, stomach, small bowel, large bowel, liver, liver failure, gallbladder and biliary tract, pancreas, pancreatic diseases, and special topics. Each chapter extensively reviews epidemiology, etiopathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, medical treatment, and surgical treatment. Chapters written by more than 50 leading authorities who have worked extensively with the tropical conditions that they have written about. Focuses on clinical aspects of diseases important to the tropics. Addresses digestive diseases as a discipline rather than as a medical or surgical specialty. Provides management of specific clinical situations that are encountered in developing countries.