Title: Nyhus and Condon's Hernia. 5th ed. R. J. Fitzgibbons Jr and A. G. Greenburgh (eds) 280 × 120 mm. Pp. 650. Illustrated. 2001. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins $179.00
Abstract: This large book deals comprehensively with all types of abdominal hernia and comprises 50 chapters from 98 distinguished contributing authors.As in all multiauthor books, the style and organization of the content varies from chapter to chapter and there is some repetition.The aetiology, history and anatomy of groin hernias occupies the ®rst nine chapters.Next come detailed accounts of different methods for their repair.Some repairs, such as Bassini's, are of largely historical interest and others, such as the Kugel approach, will not ®nd many advocates.Laparoscopic repairs are comprehensively described, although few surgeons would now use the intraperitoneal on-lay mesh, which has a chapter to itself.There are ®ve chapters about the complications of groin hernia repair, including the important problem of postoperative pain.Ventral incisional (seven chapters), paediatric and diaphragmatic hernias are considered in detail.The ®nal part of the book includes useful but disparate chapters on anaesthesia, pain management, clinical research, defects of pelvic support in women, biomaterials and assessment of the quality of hernia repair.Some chapters are followed by germane comments from the editors.This is a reference book that will be of value to both the established surgeon and the surgical trainee.