Atlas & Synopsis of Neonatology Rhishikesh Thakre Author

Reviewer: Jay P. Goldsmith, MD (Tulane University School of Medicine)Description: This is the second edition of a pictorial atlas written by Indian neonatologists with the goal of teaching observation of newborns and recognition of certain pa... Read more

Reviewer: Jay P. Goldsmith, MD (Tulane University School of Medicine)Description: This is the second edition of a pictorial atlas written by Indian neonatologists with the goal of teaching observation of newborns and recognition of certain pathological conditions. Each of the over 300 conditions includes a color photograph and discussion of etiology, investigations, differential diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. This new edition includes a section on minor abnormalities seen in the normal newborn. The first edition was published in 2016.Purpose: The purpose is to teach clinicians about observation of the neonate and to sharpen their skills in searching for clues that will lead to the proper diagnosis. This is a worthy objective since in modern medicine the practice of skilled observation has given way to the ordering of tests. The authors are leaders in the field of neonatology in India.Audience: The audience is neonatal clinicians at all levels including nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians, and trainees. The book gives practical advice for the evaluation and treatment of the conditions, but its main asset are the pictures that may help lead clinicians to the correct diagnosis. Once a differential diagnosis is made, clinicians would be better served by consulting a standard neonatal textbook for further evaluations and treatment.Features: The book is divided into eight sections that cover the normal newborn and then many topics including skin, genetic, and infectious abnormalities. Many of the conditions are rarely seen in everyday practice and some are unique to India (e.g. cultural practices with babies). The best aspects of the book are the over 600 photographs, which, for the most part, are diagnostic of the conditions they portray. However, there are no references and some of the treatments recommended are not standard in the United States.Assessment: This is an excellent pictorial atlas, but not really a synopsis of neonatology. The collection of high-quality color photographs makes this book unique, since there are few atlases of this kind available. This second edition comes only three years after the first, but it has a new section on the normal newborn and about 35 new topics. For general clinicians looking for help in diagnosing conditions in the normal newborn, The Newborn Book: Significance of the Physical Findings in the Neonate, Aby (Book Villages, 2014) is my preferred reference since it is more comprehensive of common conditions and has references for treatment. Less