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INTRODUCTION

The Gale Encyclopedia of Surgery: A Guide for Patients and Caregivers is a unique and invaluable source of information for anyone who is considering undergoing a surgical procedure, or has a loved one in that situation. This collection of 465 entries provides in-depth coverage of specific surgeries, diagnostic tests, drugs, and other related entries. The book gives detailed information on 265 surgeries; most include step-by-step illustrations to enhance the reader's understanding of the procedure itself. Entries on related topics, including anesthesia, second opinions, talking to the doctor, admission to the hospital, and preparing for surgery, give lay readers knowledge of surgery practices in general. Sidebars provide information on who performs the surgery and where, and on questions to ask the doctor.

This encyclopedia minimizes medical jargon and uses language that laypersons can understand, while still providing detailed coverage that will benefit health science students.

Entries on surgeries follow a standardized format that provides information at a glance. Rubrics include:

• Definition
• Purpose
• Demographics
• Description
• Diagnosis/Preparation
• Aftercare
• Risks
• Normal results
• Morbidity and mortality rates
• Alternatives
• Resources

Inclusion criteria

A preliminary list of surgeries and related topics was compiled from a wide variety of sources, including professional medical guides and textbooks, as well as consumer guides and encyclopedias. Final selection of topics to include was made by the executive adviser in conjunction with the Gale editor.

About the Executive Adviser

The Executive Adviser for the Gale Encyclopedia of Surgery was Anthony J. Senagore, MD, MS, FACS, FASCRS. He has published a number of professional articles and is the Krause/Lieberman Chair in Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery, and Staff Surgeon, Department of Colorectal Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio.

About the contributors

The essays were compiled by experienced medical writers, including physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and other health care professionals. The adviser reviewed the completed essays to ensure that they are appropriate, upto-date, and medically accurate. Illustrations were also reviewed by a medical doctor.

How to use this book

The Gale Encyclopedia of Surgery has been designed with ready reference in mind.

• Straight alphabetical arrangement of topics allows users to locate information quickly.
• Bold-faced terms within entries and See also terms at the end of entries direct the reader to related articles.
• Cross-references placed throughout the encyclopedia direct readers from alternate names and related topics to entries.
• A list of Key terms is provided where appropriate to define unfamiliar terms or concepts.
• A sidebar describing Who performs the procedure and where it is performed is listed with every surgery entry.
• A list of Questions to ask the doctor is provided wherever appropriate to help facilitate discussion with the patient's physician.
• The Resources section directs readers to additional sources of medical information on a topic. Books, periodicals, organizations, and internet sources are listed.
• A Glossary of terms used throughout the text is collected in one easy-to-use section at the back of book.
• A valuable Organizations appendix compiles useful contact information for various medical and surgical organizations.
• A comprehensive General index guides readers to all topics mentioned in the text.

Graphics

The Gale Encyclopedia of Surgery contains over 230 full-color illustrations, photos, and tables. This includes over 160 step-by-step illustrations of surgeries. These illustrations were specially created for this product to enhance a layperson's understanding of surgical procedures.

Licensing

The Gale Encyclopedia of Surgery is available for licensing. The complete database is provided in a fielded format and is deliverable on such media as disk or CDROM. For more information, contact Gale's Business Development Group at 1-800-877-GALE, or visit our website at www.gale.com/bizdev.