BEDSIDE CLINICS IN SURGERY
M. L. Saha, MBBS (Calcutta), MS (PGI Chandigarh)
Associate Professor, Department of General Surgery, North Bengal Medical College, Sushrutanagar, Darjeeling.

`` `Bedside Clinics in Surgery´, a book which is needed by the undergraduate and postgraduate students alike. It forms the logical next step to `Clinical Surgery´ by Dr. Das, and may even replace it as the student´s companion for clinical cases. One of the prime difficulties in reading textbooks is the long paragraphs and prose, uninterrupted by photographs, diagrams or colour diagrams. The author has successfully
overcome this by formatting the text as questions and answers. The inclusion of photographs, especially colour pathology slides, is welcome.
Each section starts with an outline for describing a case. This would be extremely useful for the students, as they know which points are to be stressed during presentation. I would further commend the author in pointing out errors usually made by the students e.g., saying `nothing significant´ in family history.´´
I have not come across another book which covers the case, from a clinical point of view so well e.g., even the doses and side effects of antituberculous drugs are given. Hence the student does not have to cross-refer to a number of books.
One of the problems, postgraduate students face, is the variety of ways in which a problem can be tackled. This book gives the most widely accepted technique of doing so. The inclusion of pathology specimens is the first of its kind as far as I know. Description of X-rays and instruments makes it a complete book for the exam-going students.
- A. K. Attri, JIMA, November 2005 Issue.

``The book has an interesting question and answer format, which is exam oriented. I found it to be informative and accurate. The diagrams are clear and simple. The instruments and pathology specimens are clear.´´ - Dr. Benjamin Perakath, Professor & Head, Department of Surgery Unit V, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India.

``I like it very much. I have recommended it to my students. The clinical examination, eliciting signs, writing a case sheet, common questions that will be asked and answers to the questions, surgical pathology, instruments, operative procedures and totally the presentation of book shows the experience and expertise of the author. I am sure a student who has no knowledge can excel with this book in hand and do well in the examination.´´ - Dr. B. Kanchana, Professor & Head, Department of Surgery, Aarupadai Veddu Medical College & Hospital, Kirumampakkam, Pondicherry.

``Students from our institute are also looking for an additional book on surgery clinics to do better than others in practical exam.´´
- Dr. Suneel Kumar Gadikota, Associate Professor of General Surgery, Kamineni Institute of Medical Sciences, Narket Pally, Nalgonda, A.P.

``The book has great scope for undergraduates, postgraduates and staff as well. It includes all contemporary material. The book is a boon for U. G´s as the text is made very easy to understand and in friendly language with most frequently asked questions in exams.´´ - Dr. Gurpal Singh Chhabda, Associate Professor of General Surgery, Kamineni Institute of Medical Sciences, Narket Pally, Nalgonda, A.P.

``The book is good and it will be useful to the undergraduates and postgraduates in surgery.´´ - Dr. B. S. Gedam, Professor, Department of Surgery, Government Medical College, Nagpur.

``I have gone through the Book titled as `Bedside Clinics in Surgery´ by Dr. M. L. Saha which is highly educative and complete in all aspects of the surgery for the students of under-graduate and post-graduate courses. Everything is discussed in a comprehensive manner on long short cases including traumatic and emergency services. It is also a rare
phenomenon to discuss in detail about the X-ray procedures, surgical pathology pertaining to the patients. It has also a practical discussion procedures. No other book discusses in such a great length about the instruments which are quite crucial for exam appearing students. Though, it is not a substitute for text-book of surgery, it gives ready made guidelines for the students appearing for under-graduate and post-graduate examinations.´´ - Superintendent, Osmania General Hospital, Hyderabad.

``It has plenty of information for a quick revision before examinations or even before presentations. Highly recommended.´´- Dr. R. C. M. Kaza, Professor, Department of Surgery, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi.

``The question and answers given in each chapter are the frequently asked questions in any standard examination by the examiner.
The author should be congratulated for using the clinical photographs from his own collection and colleagues. The book covers not only clinical surgery but also X-rays, Surgical Pathology, Preoperative Preparations, Minor surgical Procedures and Instruments.´´ - Dr. N. Dorairajan, Professor, Department of Surgery, Madras Medical College, Chennai.

``Keeping in view the practical and viva-voce of MBBS exams, the book has been designed in a different style. The content of the book is precise and methodical. Series of Common Long and Short Cases with related questions will prove helpful to the students. The author has very well compiled the common operative procedures; details of routine instruments and various common radiographs.´´ - Prof. M. Amanullah Khan, Chairman, J. N. Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, U. P.

``Dr. Saha has done a very good job and the book is a very useful not only for undergraduates but for postgraduate students as well. The section on short cases in surgery is particularly helpful for the students and gives them relevant information as a question answer session.´´
- Dr. Navneet Kaur, UCMS & GTB Hospital, Delhi.

``I have gone through the book and found to be useful for the undergraduate students of MBBS, and I strongly recommend this book for reference to MBBS students.´´ - Dr. A. T. Kamble, Professor & Head, Department of Surgery, Indira Gandhi Govt. Medical College, Nagpur.

``The book discusses all the probable questions that may be asked in the clinical examination. The author must be a good examiner and also observed the questions asked by other examiners in the clinical examination. The investigations described are relevant to the clinical cases. The surgical pathology, X-rays, surgical procedures and instruments described are adequate and essential for surgical students.
I recommend this book for all MBBS students. Junior teaching faculty members will be benefited by reading this book and will help them in taking bedside clinics.´´ - Dr. D. Premkumar, Professor & Head, Department of Surgery, IRT - Perundurai Medical College & Hospital, Tamil Nadu.