Reviewer: Sam H. Mardini, MD, MBA, MPH, FASGE (University of Kentucky College of Medicine)
Description: This is a welcome first edition book that addresses deficiencies in management of anorectal disorders in conventional gastroenterology textbooks. It is easy to read and navigate and covers the management of a broad spectrum of nonsurgical anorectal disease and management strategies of surgical topics for non-surgeons.
Purpose: As stated by the author, many gastroenterologists are presented with patients complaining of one or more of several anorectal symptoms. Patients expect that a gastroenterologist can treat their symptomatic hemorrhoids or anal fissures or diagnose accurately their rectal bleeding. Today, the evaluation and treatment of these common ailments is not included within the core curriculum of most gastrointestinal fellowship training programs, and therefore has not been incorporated into a typical GI practice. This book looks to fill that gap. Clearly this is a valuable and worthy objective, and the book meets this objective by providing a practical and succinct, up-to-date reference.
Audience: This book is written for gastroenterology fellows and practicing gastroenterologists. It focuses on non-surgical management of anorectal disease. It does not cover any interventions performed only by surgeons but still addresses the strategy of such interventions. In addition, pediatric-specific topics and some advanced endoscopic techniques of managing neoplasms are not addressed. As such, the book meets the need and expectations of its intended audience. The book is written by 28 contributing authors, mostly gastroenterologists or surgeons working in the United States. The author and contributors are established scholars in the field with many recognized for their expertise in the area they authored.
Features: The succinct and easy-to-navigate 213-page book provides a comprehensive understanding of anorectal diseases that gastroenterologists can use to manage and, therefore, improve the care of their patients It. is divided into four sections, with 17 total chapters. The sections are: 1) Anatomy and Examination; 2) Benign Anorectal Conditions; 3) Benign Soft Tissue, Perianal, Perineal, and Complicated Conditions; and 4) Neoplasms. Chapter topics include anatomy and physiology of the pelvic floor, hemorrhoids, anal fissures, anal pruritus, pilonidal disease, anorectal IBD management, defecations disorders, and anal carcinoma, among others. Each chapter begins with bulleted key points, and is broken into easy-to-read subsections such as pathophysiology, symptoms, diagnosis, and evidence-based treatment strategies. Chapters end with a comprehensive list of references. The book is written concisely and includes numerous tables, diagrams, color pictures, and treatment algorithms. Clinical management strategies for both common and rare conditions are covered, including frequently used medications and procedures. A particularly welcome inclusion are ideas on how to address real-world challenges facing clinicians, ranging from costly medications to minimizing side effects of interventions. As the first comprehensive volume covering both conservative treatment and surgical strategies for anorectal diseases, this book would serve well as a desk reference for any trainee or practicing gastroenterology clinician. Inclusion of pediatric specific topics may broaden the applicability of this well-written book.
Assessment: The book reviews many diseases that gastroenterologists should be able to effectively manage in their office, which eliminates extra cost, inconvenience, and frustration for their patients. The book is a welcome, small volume, easy-yet-comprehensive reference on wide range of day-to-day anorectal disease with specific management instructions and algorithms. It compares very well and favorably to another more extensive book entitled Anorectal Disease Contemporary Management, 2nd edition, Zutshi (Springer, 2016). The current book, however, is a smaller volume and provides more updated management approaches and pharmaceutical interventions. Because it is written by authors who practice in the U.S., many of the medications are available in the U.S. or have alternatives. In summary, this is a valuable addition to any personal or medical library. Many will find it useful and handy.
"A welcome, small volume, easy-yet-comprehensive reference on wide range of day-to-day anorectal disease with specific management instructions and algorithms. . . . a valuable addition to any personal or medical library."© Doody’s Review Service, 2020, Sam H. Mardini, MD, MBA, MPH, FASGE (University of Kentucky College of Medicine)
“As the first comprehensive volume covering both conservative treatment and surgical strategies for anorectal diseases, this book would serve well as a desk reference for any trainee or practicing gastroenterology clinician.”–Justin C. Wheeler, MD, FAAP, Practical Gastroenterology
