Understanding Surgery: A Comprehensive Guide for Every Family

By Joel A. Berman

Book Overview

Finally, a surgical text for the patient, one that lets you know what questions to ask. A must for any family member planning to undergo surgery. A book by a surgeon who makes surgery understandable... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0828320616
• ISBN13: 9780828320610
• Release Date: March 2008
• Publisher: Branden Pub Co
• Length: 494 Pages
• Weight: 1.76 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 1.3" x 5.8"

Customer Reviews

Berman's Understanding Surgery - a Must for Home Library!

I highly recommend Dr. Joel Berman's Understanding Surgery for your home medical reference bookshelf! I was pleased to be asked to review the 2008 second printing of this major effort, and found that, just as the title says, it is A Comprehensive Guide for Every Family! One thing I want to quickly point out. Although this book is geared toward Surgery; i.e., Dr. Berman provides complete information that is needed as you are considering surgery, I found that the book is so well presented and written, that it is easily also a wonderful overall medical reference manual. For instance, if you have something that is bothering you in your chest, there is an extensive index that can be used to find different issues to review. Also, since there is no way to totally eliminate the use of hard-to-understand medical terms, Dr. Berman has included an extensive glossary that is written in easily understandable words. I admit that I'm one of those individuals who is afraid to hear "the bad news" because I find it hard to understand and thus fear interactions with doctors and potential surgeons. However, right from the start of the book, Dr. Berman has taken the time to make readers feel more comfortable--he has written silly, funny, and sometimes outrageous limericks to start each conversation. Then he moves very professionally into describing exactly what is involved and what the patient and family needs to know as they explore the option for surgery. The manual is divided into two parts. The second part includes a single chapter on anything and everything that may be operable (and even a little about what is not). Dr. Berman moves from his own "general surgery" area, which includes such things as gall bladder, appendix, and transplants. Then he moves into areas for which specialists are normally sought, moving through various parts of the body from head to feet, (including plastic surgery) describing what may be problems, and then what can and would be done through surgery. Each narrative includes detailed diagrams of the affected body area, clearly marked for use in understanding the actual process. While Part II will be the more important part of this reference manual on an ongoing basis, I found Part I to be very informative. Oftentimes, professionals, especially specialists, are brought in to handle a specific task, or surgery. While we, the patients are grateful, we have no idea what has actually taken place! Dr. Berman, in Part I, has taken care of this problem! He begins with a brief history of surgery, education of the surgeon and then specialties that have been developed. He talks about the details that we, the patients, wouldn't immediately think about if we were in pain, but that would be very important to us, if we weren't seeing the individual for an immediate medical reason. The book includes what questions to explore with the surgeon(s). Part I takes us into the surgeon's office, into the operating room and/or an outpatient surgical cen

A whole new understanding.

You are scheduled to have surgery in a few weeks and you are wondering what needs to be done, do you know what to expect? Do you know what question to ask? Dow you have any idea what qualifications your doctor has? Is the surgery necessary or can you get a second opinion? Dr. Berman has put together a very comprehensive, yet easily readable book that shows you what you need to do and ask in order to make sure surgery is not this great big mystery it has always been in the past. I was impressed by the depth of the information presented and how much the author really want you to know. Dr. Berman seems to have a real down to earth approach to his writing making it easier to comprehend the ideas. The books includes pictures and a glossary to explain the medical terms in a more detailed manner. Overall this book has what every family needs - doctor's advice without the bill. Well done.