Baum's Textbook of Pulmonary Diseases
The book starts with an introductory section that covers necessary information to the diagnosis both general and differential in the patient presenting with respiratory symptoms. This information includes a section on radiograph interpretation, pulmonary function testing, and an excellent chapter on the applications and interpretation of clinical exercise tests in gaining valuable information about the diagnosis and prognosis of the pulmonary patient.
Each section of the book after section I is focused on one of a category of pulmonary diseases. Besides the standard coverage given to obstructive disorders, sections also exist for neoplastic diseases of the lung and pulmonary vascular disease. To make this an even more useful tool for the primary care physician who must treat patients with a variety of disorders, a very informative section on the pulmonary manifestations of systemic disease is included. This is an impressive collection of clinical information that relates how common diseases not often associated with the lungs can effect the respiratory function of the patient.
For those whose main goal is the rehabilitation of pulmonary patients, especially those with COPD, there is extensive coverage of pulmonary rehabilitation, with chapters dealing with both rehabilitation as an intervention in its own right and one on smoking cessation as its own intervention. These chapters clearly signify the importance of making a lifestyle change for the patient and the role medical professionals play in this process. This is very reflective of the shift in emphasis of COPD management to the team approach in which many medical professionals must coordinate the care of the patient in order to make the best rehabilitative effort.
The editors and contributing authors have made sure that nearly every major clinical topic has been at least mentioned. There is even mention of some fairly rare conditions in the environmental and occupational lung disease section. Whether for physicians in training such as pulmonary residents, or primary care physicians who deal with a large number of pulmonary complaints each year; this text can serve as a comprehensive clinical guide. Highly recommended.