Immunologic Aspects of Anesthetic and Surgical Practice ed. by Alix Mathieu and Barry D. Kahan (review)

thoughts of a clinician who has spent a lifetime observing human brain dysfunction . Frank R. Freemon Department of Neurology Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37203 Immunologic Aspects of Anesthetic and Surgical Practice. Edited by Alix Mathieu and Barry D. Kahan. New York: Grune & Stratton, 1975. Pp. 400. $29.00. Drs. Mathieu and Kahan have edited the first book which relates the disciplines of immunology and anesthesiology, a relationship which has been developing rapidly during the past decade. It is a timely and valuable volume. It will help the anesthesiologist to become increasingly aware of the immunologic responses of patients to infection, allergy, drugs, blood transfusion, and organ transplantation. The book is written by 24 authors, mainly from Boston and Chicago. It has 17 chapters, divided into two parts. Part 1 is an introduction to immunology and covers cell-mediated immunity, phytohemagglutinin stimulation of human lymphocytes , the cellular basis of antibody production, immunoglobulin structure, immediate hypersensitivity, the complement and kinin-forming systems of human plasma, host defense and the altered host, effects of anesthesia and surgery on immunity, and anesthesia, surgery, and infection. Each chapter is a review in the style of the author and is directed to an audience that understands basic immunologic terms. The chapters are well written and have many references up to 1973 for further reading. Part 2 includes specific considerations in the immune response and reviews viral hepatitis, hypersensitivity and anaphylactic reactions to anesthetic and other drugs used in anesthetic practice, asthma and other allergic disorders, blood transfusions, and anesthesia for human heart, lung, kidney, and liver transplantation. These are areas of general interest to the surgeon and anesthesiologist and have been chosen to illustrate the clinical implications of immunologic responses in an understandable fashion. This section is not comprehensive : it does not contain any detailed coverage of neoplasia or autoimmune diseases. The surgeon has recognized the interdependence of transplant surgery and immunology for about two decades. This text is designed to educate the anesthesiologist in current immunologic concepts and to help in the deciphering of immunological responses in anesthetic practice. The authors and editors are to be congratulated for publishing this work which will stimulate increased interest in this interdisciplinary field. Simon J. Simonian Department of Surgery University of Chicago 160 I Book Reviews ...