Dr Narendrakumar and his co-editors, Drs Vinod Felix and Vivek Mariappan, should be credited for putting together such a diverse collection of common and uncommon complications that we as surgeons have faced or may face and manage in our own ways.
This book is arranged in five sections covering rhinology, anterior skull base, head and neck surgery, otology and lateral skull base. A hundred cases have been authored by around 260 surgeons from across the globe, looking at a variety of difficult or challenging preoperative and postoperative complications and ways to manage and minimise morbidity. Some of the complications are repetitive but represent differing causative factors.
The cases have been nicely illustrated with high-quality photos and around 53 video clips. The cases are well represented as more of a ‘how I do it’, representing at times a hint of local clinical cultures which may differ across countries. Perhaps in the next edition, the editors may consider a wider involvement of colleagues noticeably absent from China, Europe, Africa and North America. It is commendable that a large number from an endless list of possible surgical complications have been covered and this book would be a good read for trainees and young surgeons undertaking independent surgery. Finally, a successful surgeon could be described as one who undertakes surgery only if they are ready to handle their complications as well!