Clinical Manual of Emergency Pediatrics. Fourth edition. Edited by Ellen F. Crain and Jeffrey C. Gershel. 762 pp. New York, McGraw Hill, 2003. $39.95. ISBN 0-07-137750-6.

The fourth edition of Clinical Manual of Emergency Pediatrics strives to remain true to the editors’ original intention: to provide a concise, portable handbook summarizing the majority of conditions that are seen in a pediatric emergency department. For each topic discussed, the editors have tried to include points and priorities for diagnosis, management, and follow-up care, as well as indications for hospitalization. To this end, this book is definitely a success and the editors can be congratulated. This book is an impressive, cohesive compilation of many peoples’ work, including 2 assistant editors, 37 chapter editors, and 18 chapter contributors. The book comes together nicely as a user-friendly and compact guide.

This book encompasses a wide range of topics, from mundane, common things that we all see everyday to the more dramatic and life-threatening situations encountered (hopefully) rarely. Most of the chapter topics are based on organ systems (Gastrointestinal Emergencies, Pulmonary Emergencies, Cardiac Emergencies, etc). There are also specific chapters based on pathophysiology or special scenarios. These include such things as resuscitation, allergic emergencies, ingestions, environmental emergencies (drowning, burns, etc), and trauma. There is also a great chapter on Special Considerations in Pediatric Emergency Care that looks at such issues such as telephone triage and cross-cultural encounters.

The organization of this book is excellent. The tables of contents and index are both user-friendly. The subdivisions within each chapter are clearly listed in the table of contents, which makes it very easy to quickly jump to the exact page that addresses whatever clinical situation you are currently facing. The text font is a little small, but readability is maintained by the use of relatively short paragraphs and lots of breaks and subdivisions within the chapters. Descriptions of emergency room procedures are straightforward and logical—it was easy for me to imagine doing the various procedures outlined in the book with confidence. One shortcoming of this book is that pictures and illustrations are somewhat lacking. This is especially notable in the Dermatology chapter, in which, in fact, there are no pictures.

An excellent feature of this handbook are the short algorithms for life-threatening/serious conditions neatly contained on the inside of the front and back covers—very easy to find in a panic situation! There is also a clear, concise fold-out “code card” inside the back cover, complete with pediatric drug dosages.

In summary, Clinical Manual of Emergency Pediatrics, fourth edition, is a very useful handbook that covers a huge variety of pediatric emergency situations. This book would be most appropriate and useful for anybody staffing an emergency room that treats pediatric patients, as well as family medicine or pediatric residents in the hospital.