The Veterinary Journal 188 (2011) e3

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The Veterinary Journal

journal homepage: www.elsevier .com/locate / tv j l

Book Review

J.A. Thomas, P. Lerche, Anesthesia and Analgesia for VeterinaryTechnicians, fourth ed., Elsevier, London, 2010, ISBN9780323055048, 432 pp.; £34.99 (soft)

The fourth edition of this American textbook designed forveterinary technicians has undergone a revamp. It is very well laidout in a clear, methodical fashion. A chapter outline, learningobjectives and key terms at the beginning of each chapter andmultiple choice questions at the end, help make it a very readerfriendly textbook that reinforces learning. Presentation is excellentthroughout, with relevant diagrams and photos, particularly in themonitoring chapter where there are excellent diagrams of theoxygen dissociation curve. Explanations are clear, and definitionsare simplified to aid understanding of complex subjects (perhapssometimes over-simplified for those seeking an advancedanaesthesia text).

Throughout the book there are good pictures and operating pro-cedures for practical techniques, providing clear step by stepinstructions which can be used as a reference in a clinical setting.There are interesting references to the history of anaesthesia. Casestudies are interspersed sporadically to demonstrate key points ofthe technician’s role in anaesthesia and really emphasise what hasbeen stated in the chapter, often using mistakes and failings toreinforce a point, such as the importance of checking anaestheticmachines prior to use.

The appendices and glossary at the end of the book are bothuseful reference points. As expected, being an American textmeans there are some differences to similar books written for UKnurses. The obvious one is legislation regarding what technicianscan do, and also drug licensing and legislation. Most drugs are useduniversally but there are some omissions, the main one being thelack of alfaxalone (it is not currently used in the USA). Other differ-ences include the lack of information on the Humphrey ADE circuitin the chapter on breathing systems. However, many subjects are

doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2011.01.022

covered in excellent detail in a clear methodical fashion such asanaesthetic monitoring, but other topics, such as breathing sys-tems, are not so well covered. The well-written chapters on rumi-nants and swine, and the coverage of equine anaesthesia withuseful photographs are of particular note as most other nursingtext books I have encountered barely mention these areas.

There are several points with which I disagree, and the text issometimes written using anecdotes rather than being evidence-based, perpetuating myths that exist within anaesthesia. An exam-ple of this is that ‘ACP lowers the seizure threshold and may causeseizures in epileptics’ and that it ‘causes behaviour changes thatmay cause bites’. Also ‘cats are more sensitive to opioids than dogs,so certain agents should be used in caution or not at all’.

Nevertheless, overall the book is pitched at a good level fornurses with an interest in anaesthesia, concentrating really wellon the technician’s role. The methodical lay out and practicalstep by step instructions for clinical procedures make it a usefuladdition to practice bookshelves. It is an essential for any nurseplanning to work in the USA or studying for the American Vet-erinary Technician Specialist in Anaesthesia qualification. How-ever for British nurses with a particular interest in advancedanaesthesia it provides a useful, rather than essential resource.I will use it in addition to the British equivalent Anaesthesia forVeterinary Nurses by Elizabeth Welsh as the two books havea very different approach with their own strengths andweaknesses.

Emma ArcherThe Animal Health Trust,Lanwades Park, Kentford,

Newmarket, Suffolk,CB8 7UU,

UKE-mail address: emma.archer@aht.org.uk