I was pleased to be asked to review this book, firstly, because there are lots of good things to say and, secondly, because I have owned a copy for nearly two years. Released in hardback edition in 2007, the book aimed to fill the perceived gap for a paediatric ENT textbook. The eminent editors and authors are predominantly British, but the spelling of ‘pediatric’ in the title indicates that this book was intended to have international appeal. Key contributions come from well known names from the wider world of paediatric ENT, such as Rutter and Garabedian.
The textbook encompasses many aspects of paediatric otolaryngology, including a number of chapters focussing on paediatric medicine relevant to ENT. This is the great strength of the text, with a number of contributions made by paediatric physicians. The overview, nursing and anaesthetic chapters set the scene for the care of the paediatric patient. The chapter on the evolution of speech and language in humans is a fascinating read. A comprehensive review of the genetics of non-syndromic deafness is included, and the review of syndromes relevant to ENT is a clinically useful summary and helpful for exams. Two of the best chapters cover cystic fibrosis and ciliary dyskinesia and the immunocompromised child. They give a comprehensive overview, with pragmatic advice on investigation and treatment.
The other chapters of the book are broadly organised into laryngology and airway, rhinology, and otology. The paediatric voice chapter is well referenced and features a review of common pathology and voice outcome assessment tools. The head and neck, congenital cysts, and salivary chapters are concise and informative. As would be expected, the paediatric airway chapters are comprehensive and well illustrated. They progressively cover the range of airway issues, from assessment in out-patients to management of complex airway surgery. This is not a surgical text, but the principles are explained clearly. There is an excellent chapter on the increasingly important issue of gastro-oesophageal reflux.
The rhinitis and sinusitis chapters are well set out, with clear management protocols and medication suggestions. The otology section is thorough, with a number of strong chapters ranging from the audiometric testing of children to the provision of cochlear implants. There is a particularly well illustrated chapter on imaging of the deaf child.
There are no major failings of this text. It does not formally appraise and assign a level of evidence to all the data, but, possibly as a consequence, it flows and reads very well. The fact that this is a multi-author text means that there is overlap between several chapters. I personally like this, as this information allows chapters to stand alone, and also reinforces important points.
This textbook is ideal for trainees, especially around exam time. Consultants with any paediatric aspect to their practice would find it a useful reference. Its main competitor would probably be the paediatric section in Scott-Brown's. I own both texts and, while there is some overlap, the emphasis is different and I find that they are complementary. From a purely practical point of view, Pediatric ENT is more portable than a section of Scott-Brown's, if you are reading on the run. I own the hardback version of the book, and felt that this represented value, but the paperback version, at around £60, is an excellent purchase.
Editor's comment
I am grateful to our reviewer and to the publishers of JLO for fast-tracking this long overdue review of a book published a couple of years ago, which has become established as the standard UK work on this topic. I rely on detective work and contacts with the publishers of new textbooks to appraise what is new on the market, but sometimes will miss one!
I also do rely on a small group of enthusiasts to produce these reviews, and volunteers are always welcome. International expertise is not a requirement. The books are usually aimed at the generalist or trainee, who will often prove the best assessor of a work. The only reward for meeting deadlines is an addition to the personal library and the satisfaction of seeing your name, if not in lights, then at least in print.
I must close by commenting on the cover of the book reviewed below. I was concerned that the cover printing of the road sign had gone wrong, with a vertical smearing of the image. It seems it is a house style for the publisher but, for the authors, the cover is more memorable for the ‘duck’. Once told, now I see it. Can you?
