This book has been edited by Linda L Morris and M Sherif Afifi, who have also written several chapters with contributions from a number of co-authors. It aims to provide a ‘one-stop’, comprehensive reference on tracheostomy for a range of healthcare professionals who deal with tracheostomy patients.

The authors have addressed various aspects of tracheostomy. Chapter 1 covers quite brief but relevant anatomy of the airway. Other chapters cover procedures, instruments and special considerations that healthcare professionals might encounter in the management of a tracheostomy patient. The chapters have been arranged in a sensible manner, although we think it would have been more relevant, and could have flowed better on reading, if Chapter 10 (‘Complications and emergency procedures’) had come after Chapter 2 (‘Tracheostomy procedure’). Most chapters are well covered but some are more detailed than others. All come with a useful summary and key points at the end of the chapter.

A particularly good aspect of the book is the number of accompanying illustrations. However, these are all in black and white. We feel that it would have been more interesting, and easier for reference use, if at least some illustrations had been in colour.

Overall, this book offers a significant amount of detail on all things related to tracheostomy, including techniques and equipment. It has been written to be easily understood by all levels of healthcare professional, although we found its presentation quite monotonous in parts, which may make it slightly tedious to read. Despite this, we feel it will prove to be useful as a reference book for anyone involved with tracheostomy.