Jay P. Goldsmith, MD(Tulane University School of Medicine)

This is the second edition of a primer on continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), a modality to support neonates with respiratory insufficiency.

pe primer on the application of this respiratory support technique. As with most technical innovations, the devil is in the details, and this book is the most detailed description of the technique in the literature. It borrows heavily from the approach of Dr. Wung from Columbia University, even including protocols from that institution. Teaching CPAP technique is a worthy goal and, for the most part, the authors meet this objective.

f, fellows, residents, nurse practitioners, and perhaps neonatal nurses and respiratory therapists who work with CPAP in their units. It is fairly basic for experienced senior clinicians, although many neonatologists could use a refresher on the respiratory physiology found in these pages. The authors and editors are not well known and virtually all of their information and data is from other publications.

In 20 brief and well-illustrated chapters, the book covers the respiratory physiology, indications, application, radiographic and blood gas analyses associated with the use of CPAP. Case studies are also included as well as the Columbia protocols mentioned above. The best chapter is probably the review of different devices and modes of delivering CPAP with a good discussion of the differences between variable flow and continuous CPAP as well as SiPAP (CPAP with a rate delivered without intubation). The illustrations are small but well done and colorful.

This is a unique book devoted entirely to the bedside application of CPAP.