The new edition of this reference for the practising surgeon represents a revision of all existing chapters and the addition of 31 new chapters. A total of 141 chapters cover advances in the field including thoracic imaging, lung tumours and esophageal disease, lung and heart-lung transplantation, cardiac catheterization, magnetic resonance imaging, cardiac valve reconstruction and combined coronary and carotid artery disease. As in previous editions, the general format of three major sections has been retained along with an emphasis on diagnosis and therapy.

Over 200 discrete topics, covering the full spectrum of general surgery and the surgical sub-specialties. Each topic is presented in a bulleted, outline-oriented format. Extensive coverage of pathophysiology, especially the molecular and genetic underpinnings of disease states and their progression, is included. Examples of new laparoscopic and other minimally invasive surgical techniques are also illustrated and described throughout.