Journal of Surgical Research 166, 45 (2011)

BOOK REVIEW

Rutherford’s Vascular Surgery 7th EditionJack L. Cronenwett, M.D. and K. Wayne Johnston, M.D.,

FRCSC., Saunders, 2010.

Rutherford’s Vascular Surgery, edited by Jack L.Cronenwett and K. Wayne Johnston, is the 7th editionof this sentinel vascular surgery text. First published in1976 and known to many simply as ‘‘Rutherford,’’ it re-mains a commonly used reference for comprehensivecoverage of current vascular surgical practice. Onlineaccess is available at www.expertconsult.com and re-quires registration using the scratch off activationcode provided in the front cover of each book. Refer-ences are only available online with links to full PubMed citations and abstracts.

The 7th edition ofRutherford’sVascular Surgery, pub-lished in 2010, is sponsored by the Society for VascularSurgery.EditorsCronenwettandJohnston, associateed-itors of previous editions and editors of the Journal ofVascular Research, are nationally and internationallyreputed and have selected a group of authorswith exper-tise in the topics of their respective chapters. Of note,Rutherford has developed a policy of soliciting new chap-ter authorship after every two editions in an effort to con-tinue to inspire improvement and keep informationcurrent. Furthermore, many up-and-coming expertshave contributed to this edition, providing cutting edgeinformation into the future of this evolving field.

The reader will find that the 7th edition has beencompletely revised and restructured compared withprevious editions. The chapters are ordered in an in-tuitive way with topics grouped so that the two vol-umes contain chapters with related content.Subheadings within each section are clear and makenavigation simple and straight-forward. Illustrations,intraoperative photographs and other images are alsoof high quality and effectively complement the textthroughout.

Volume1beginswithan in-depthpresentation of the ba-sic science pathophysiology of vascular disease. This com-plex basic science section is both complete and readable

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with well referenced diagrams for the visual learner. Thevolumegoesonto includereviewsof specificvascularcondi-tions and basic clinical overviews of patient evaluation,perioperative management, and common complications.

Volume 2 begins with two excellent sections focusedon surgical technique and related grafts and devices.These sections provide an important and useful over-view, however, the reader will find a surgical atlas anessential adjunct. Subsequent sections in Volume 2 fo-cus on specific vascular diseases, associated treatmentoptions, and decision making schemes. Each sectionprovides the reader with comprehensive, current infor-mation including both basic pathophysiology and clini-cal decision making and treatment options.

The online access provided with the purchase of eachtextbook is useful for rapid reference on-the-go. This lit-erally places the entirety of this 2447 page textbook atthe vascular practitioner’s fingertips. The website iseasily navigable and user friendly.

In conclusion, Rutherford’s Vascular Surgery 7th edi-tion is a well organized textbook that continues to standapart as a comprehensive authority on current vascularsurgical practice. Readers looking for detailed surgicalexposure and anatomy, however, should consult otherresources. We highly recommend this book as an excel-lent resource for practicing surgeons, surgical resi-dents, and all healthcare workers involved in the careof the patient with vascular disease.

Brigitte Smith, M.D.Division of Vascular Surgery

University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics600 Highland AvenueMadison, WI 53719

E-mail: bsmith5@uwhealth.org

Girma Tefera, M.D.Division of Vascular Surgery

University of Wisconsin School of Medicineand Public Health

Madison, WIdoi:10.1016/j.jss.2010.09.039

0022-4804/$36.00� 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.