Davidson's Principles and Practice of Medicine - Hardcover

Haslett BSc(Hons) FRCPE FRCP, Christopher; Chilvers BMedSci BMBS PhD FRCPE, Edwin R.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 044307111X ISBN 13: 9780443071119

Publisher: Churchill Livingstone, 2003

Synopsis

This internationally renowned, best-selling textbook provides a rational and easily understood basis for the practice of clinical medicine. Since it was first published, this comprehensive text has met the requirements of several generations of medical students preparing for their examinations, while serving as a valuable reference for doctors in training. The publication of the 19th Edition marks the 50th anniversary of the first publication of the book.

New two-page overviews of the important elements of the clinical examination at the beginning of each

system-based chapter

Expanded sections on major manifestations of disease provide a practical, problem-orientated diagnostic guide in all system-based chapters

Boxes and tables now classified and colour-coded according to the type of information they present

Over 175 new evidence-based medicine panels summarising the results of systematic reviews and randomized

controlled trials in key therapeutic areas

New 'Issues in older people' boxes throughout highlight the important aspects of medical practice in the

elderly population

A thoroughly revised and restructured chapter on infectious diseases with a problem-based approach

New discrete chapters on Diabetes and Clinical Genetics

A multi-disciplinary author team of physicians and surgeons to give a wider perspective on clinical

management

A list of up-to-date reviews and useful websites with links to management guidelines included at the end of each chapter

A combined index and glossary of medical acronyms, expanded to include more than 10,000 subject entries

An International Advisory Board providing invaluable advice to ensure that Davidson maintains its

international perspective and world-wide reputation

Detailed chapter changes

SECTION A PRINCIPLES OF MEDICAL PRACTICE

1. Infection and Immune Failure

The outdated taxonomic approach to the subject of infection has been replaced with a refreshing clinically-based problem-linked classification of common clinical infectious presentations without loss of detail or relevance

A clinically based appraisal of antimicrobial prescribing covering important pharmacological and safety details linked to therapeutic usefulness

A new section has been added on the clinical approach to the diagnosis and management of fever in different settings - hospital, primary care and specific clinical scenarios e.g. injecting drug use.

New sections on thermoregulation and the febrile response; fever in general practice; fever in the injecting drug user; generalised infections; and glandular fever syndromes

Travel and international health have been revised and re-structured to incorporate a clear problem based approach to the subject.

Complete rewriting of the section on tropical and international health. Refocused and re-orientated providing a problem-based approach to tropical medicine.

The section on HIV related disease has been completely re-written in a clinically relevant style

The section on sexually transmitted infection has been revised and re-structured to give appropriate prominence to the condition according to the incidence in the population and using the National 2002 STI guidelines as reference

2. Drug Therapy

A new separate chapter on drug therapy containing a completely new section on evidence-based medicine in drug therapy

Increased emphasis on drug therapy in elderly patients and other special groups

3. Poisoning

Updated with European & American guidelines on gut decontamination

Includes mechanistic diagrams showing routes of toxicity

Provides an overview of treatment methods re cardiotoxicity

New text on organophosphate insecticide poisoning and snake/spider bites

4. Critical Care

Chapter now written by two senior experienced intensivists with many years experience in intensive care.

The chapter reflects the pivotal importance of critical care medicine in a modern hospital

The major manifestations and management have been reorganised and presented in a systematic manner.

Topical issues such as critical case outreach and follow-up have been addressed, and emphasize that critical care is a service for the hospital, not merely a geographical unit where patients are cared for.

The addition of the evidence-based medicine boxes emphasize the fact that intensive care now has good randomised controlled trials on which to base much of our practice.

5. Oncology

Completely re-written text which contains a common theme of breast cancer to illustrate concepts

Cross-referencing to other chapters for oncological emergencies and management questions

6. Palliative Care and Pain Management

A new chapter that stresses the importance of the control of pain.

Includes discussion on the physiology of pain and the pharmacology of various pain relieving drugs

Simple algorithms for the general treatment of any pain state and a comprehensive guide to cancer pain control

Illustrates the principles of palliative care clearly

7. Frail Older People

New section on clinical assessment

New section on the concept of frailty

New section on decisions about investigation

Integration of important issues in old age throughout the book

8. Medical Psychiatry

Includes flow charts on the management of deliberate self-harm, disturbed behaviour and medically unexplained symptoms

Updated and enlarged section on medically unexplained somatic complaints, including guidance on management.

New sections on major manifestations of psychiatric illness

Treatments updated

9. Water, Electrolyte and Acid-base Imbalance

Greatly enhanced explanation of underlying physiological principles and mechanisms, explaining in detail the links between clinical disorders and disturbed physiology.

Textual and graphical descriptions of individual nephron segments and their function.

New information about the molecular basis of kidney function and related disorders

New section on diuretics and their clinical applications

10. Nutritional, Metabolic and Environmental Disease

The whole chapter has been completely re-written, with a particular emphasis on the core knowledge needed by undergraduates.

There is a major new section on the treatment of malnutrition in the developing world, written by an acknowledged expert in the field

There is a new section on nutritional support in hospital, increasingly recognised as a vital part of patient treatment.

The section on hyperlipidaemia has been re-written to bring a practical "hands on" approach to a complicated subject.

There are new sections on amyloidosis and porphyria with particular emphasis on clinical presentations.

Obesity is an increasingly important problem. This is covered in a comprehensive manner, with suggestions for treatment strategies.

New text on environmental medicine including sections on altitude illness, diving illness/decompression sickness, accidental hypothermia and cold injury, near drowning, hypothermia and radiation exposure.

11. Clinical Genetics

Completely new section on clinical genetics and genetic counselling.

Includes the use of genetic testing in the diagnosis and management of disease.

SECTION B SYSTEM-BASED DISEASES

12. Cardiovascular Disease

Extensive revision of the whole chapter including new concepts, and approaches to risk assessment, primary prevention, secondary prevention, and evidence base therapy.

Major revision of the sections on acute coronary syndromes with major rewrite of the major manifestation of chest pain

New major manifestation sections on atrial fibrillation and sudden cardiac death

Major rewrite of section on aortic and peripheral and vascular disease with input from an eminent surgeon

Major rewrites of congenital heart disease and heart muscle disease with superb new illustrations

13. Respiratory Disease

Major upgrading, expansion and rewriting of major manifestations section including new sections on cough, pleural effusion and sleep-disordered breathing.

Asthma section re-written to incorporate most up to date therapeutic recommendations from the British Thoracic Society.

Tuberculosis section extensively revised in line with international guidelines of care

Interstitial pulmonary diseases section extensively re-worked; rewritten sections on pulmonary vascular disease, pneumothorax and pulmonary physiology/lung function 

14. Kidney and Genito-Urinary Disease

Completely rewritten 'urology overlap' area including malignancies, prostate disease, stones.

Expanded coverage of anatomy (including endourology) and of normal and abnormal bladder function.

Improved section on interstitial renal disease.

Extensively revised coverage of renal replacement therapy

Clearer coverage of acute renal failure, especially differential diagnosis.

New section on lower urinary tract function.

Completely rewritten sections on all the genitourinary tumours.

New sections on lower urinary tract obstruction and urinary incontinence

15. Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes (mellitus) is now a separate chapter in its own right, and not included with nutritional disorders or other (unrelated) metabolic diseases such as lipid disorders

Update on therapy of diabetes with new figures to illustrate classes of therapeutic agents and strategies (especially for type 2 diabetes).

Update of section on diabetic complications and their treatment

Expanded information on diabetes and heart disease

Revised sections on retinopathy and genetics

16. Endocrine Disease

Considerably expanded and now integrated with sections of major manifestations of disease

Multiple new sections on spontaneous hypoglycaemia, MEM's, gynaecomastia, hirsitism, virilization, non-functioning pituitary tumours etc with reduction in inappropriate adrenal disease coverage

Revised and expanded sections on molecular pathogenesis of endocrine disorders e.g. receptor gain of function mutations, target organ resistance etc

Most of images have been replaced to ensure most up to date imaging techniques displayed

Undated medical management sections throughout eg sildenafil, block/replace strategies in thyroid illness

17. Alimentary Tract and Pancreatic Disease

Substantially rewritten with many new updated figures and tables

New major manifestations section on 'weight loss'

Expanded/new sections on acute abdominal pain including surgical aspects of the acute abdomen; endoscopic ultrasonics; Barrett's oesophagus and colon cancer pathogenesis

18. Liver and Biliary Tract Disease

Rewritten and updated section on viral hepatitis

Up to date outline of the investigation and management of diseases involving liver and biliary system given the recent advances in non-invasive radiological imaging and the move towards the multidisciplinary management of hepatobiliary disease

Discussions of the molecular pathogenesis of liver disease

19. Blood Disorders

Restructuring of functional anatomy, physiology and investigation

Expansion of major manifestations to include leukopenia, leukocytosis, abnormal coagulation screen, pancytopenia.

New illustrations including photographs of maturation pathways of marrow cells, normal white blood cells, bone marrow aspirate and trephine

Outline of the essential features of a safe blood supply system, based on WHO guidelines

Updated information on infectious risks of blood transfusion

Refers to BSE, Variant CJD and current precautionary measures against possible transmission by blood.

20. Connective Tissue, Joint and Bone Disease

All sections completely re-written; majority of figures/photographs are new

Inclusion of the GALS screening examination of the musculoskeletal system

New sections on: Principles of management of musculoskeletal disorders; Muscle pain and weakness; Fibromyalgia; Musculoskeletal manifestations of disease in other systems

New expanded sections on the principles of investigation in rheumatic disease; inflammatory joint disease; systemic connective tissue disease and osteoporosis

21. Skin Disease

New section on dermatological surgery

Expanded section on skin infections and infestations

Improved section on skin cancer

22. Neurological Disease

Increased numbers of photographs/tables with several updated

Text and tables updated with world medicine in mind

Infections section rewritten and revised

About this title

Review

The textbook has come a long way since the first edition in 1952 but remains true to its original ideals. One of the most praiseworthy features is the double-page spread on clinical examination preceding each of the systems. It has many strenghts, clear and logical layout, pithy and relevant information (with plenty of information boxes to highlight the most salient points), well-chosen photographs and beautiful illustrations. You will continue to gaze longingly thorugh the bookshop window until you have a copy of your own.
Edinburgh Medics, a Res Medica supplement courtesy of the Royal Medical Society, July 2005

Edition details

• Publisher: Churchill Livingstone
• Publication date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 044307111X
• ISBN 13: 9780443071119
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 1296