Avery’s Diseases of the Newborn, 10th Edition

By Christine A. Gleason, MD

ISBN: 9780323401395

Pub Date: 12/27/17

Reviewed by: Jay P. Goldsmith, MD (Tulane University School of Medicine)

Description

This is the 10th edition (ninth edition published in 2012) of this classic neonatal textbook first published in 1960. The book has evolved over these many editions to take its place as one of the important general textbooks in the field. With a new co-editor (Dr. Juul), the book has new expertise in the areas of neonatal neurology and hematology. The website makes the book available in an electronic version and includes a few basic videos on hematology as well as a site for updates (the latest is an addition on Zika virus).

Purpose

The purpose is to provide caregivers with the most up-to-date techniques and research on the care of newborn infants. Over ten editions and multiple editors, the book has become more focused on clinical care, with an expanding number of contributors, many of whom are from the west coast. The book has expanded to 1,600 pages and has a readily available and user-friendly website.

Audience

The audience is neonatal caregivers at almost every level. The entire field of neonatology is covered with interesting chapters on epidemiology, biomedical informatics, maternal and perinatal topics, as well as the standard review of neonatal issues. Key points begin each chapter to help focus the reader on important issues. Overall, the book succeeds in its objectives and will probably be found lying dog-eared, coffee-stained, annotated, and broken-spined in many neonatal call rooms. The editors are well-recognized authorities in the field.

Features

The book provides a complete overview of the field of neonatology. New chapters on palliative care, transfusion, and neuroprotective strategies are included in the 21 sections and 109 chapters. I particularly appreciated the sections on the approach to the dysmorphic infant and the entire section on high-risk newborn care. There are numerous full-color charts and excellent radiological reproductions. Despite sections on maternal health, labor and delivery, and resuscitation, there is no discussion of cord blood gases, which are essential to the early evaluation of the depressed neonate.

Assessment

This book takes its place with the two other major books in this field (Avery’s Neonatology: Pathophysiology and Management of the Newborn, 7th edition, MacDonald and Seshia (Wolters Kluwer, 2016) and Fanaroff and Martin’s Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine: Diseases of the Fetus and Infant, 10th edition, Martin et al. (Elsevier, 2015)). Several other American books have tried to compete in this field Neonatology: Clinical Practice and Procedures, Stevenson et al. (McGraw-Hill, 2015), and various publications by Alan R. Spitzer, but the longevity of the top three seems to have established them as the go-to references. Each of these top three has some areas that are superior to others, mostly due to the contributors in a specific field. The latest edition of this excellent book continues its evolution, with major revisions and new expertise. It will certainly find its place among the standard references in the field.

Doody’s Review Service Weighted Numerical Score: 94 – 4 Stars!