Abstract
Since it was first published in 1999, Vascular Ultrasound has become a standard textbook for anyone working in the field of vascular sonography. This third edition sets out the field in 16 chapters. Each chapter has short, clearly labelled sections dealing with a particular topic within the chapter heading. These are listed in a ‘contents box’ at the beginning of each chapter with the relevant page numbers indicated. Chapters cover the relevant physics and technology of duplex ultrasound and how to optimize the scan, followed by chapters covering the circulation throughout the body. New to this edition are chapters on the abdominal aortic branches, the use of ultrasound in assessing haemodialysis access and the use of ultrasound in minimally invasive techniques for treating lower-limb veins.
The book is comprehensively illustrated throughout with clear diagrams and images. Data tables are set out on a green background, and yellow boxes intersperse the text with hints, tips, comments and other short summaries of information. This layout makes the book easy to use with the reader being able to ‘home in’ on the relevant information quickly. It is inevitable in a book containing this number of illustrations that there are occasions where the relevant illustration is not on the same page as the text. However, they are usually to be found on an adjacent page and this does not present too much of problem. The chapter on carotid scanning has a good discussion on the background to the current UK Reporting Recommendations for carotid scanning, and the chapter on the duplex assessment of aneurysms sets the context for the National Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Programme.
One other new and very welcome addition to this text is the inclusion of a DVD with annotated cine clips illustrating many of the points made in the book. This includes a physics section illustrating how to set up the machine correctly and showing what can occur if this is not done. It also includes illustrations of the use of ultrasound in endo-vascular laser treatment. Some of these video images appear rather dark with poor contrast, but overall this is a very welcome and useful addition to the book. In summary, I highly recommend this book as a comprehensive text covering all aspects of vascular ultrasound for the vascular technologist or sonographer specializing in this area of investigation.
