Handbook of Dialysis
Editors:  John T. Daugirdas, Peter G. Blake, & Todd S. Ing
Fourth Edition, 2007
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
530 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106-3621
http://www.lww.com/
ISBN-13: 978-0-7817-5253-4
ISBN-10: 0-7817-5253-1
Soft cover, 800 pages, U.S. $65.00

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins has published an updated edition of Handbook of Dialysis. The purpose of this handbook is to discuss dialysis and related topics in a practical, applicable manner. The discussion’s spectrum ranges from basic to advanced. This book targets everyone involved in the care of patients with nephrology-related problems from novice to expert providers. Basically, the book offers a comprehensive look at renal disease (chronic through end stage) and its treatment. The book presents issues related to kidney disease, complicating factors, and considerations.
   
Handbook of Dialysis is organized as four sections with chapters in each section: chronic kidney disease (CKD) (2 chapters), blood-based treatments (15 chapters), peritoneal dialysis (9 chapters), and other related issues (17 chapters). The CKD chapters stress the importance of early detection and recommend tests. For end stage renal disease (ESRD), both acute and chronic care considerations are discussed. Headings are in bold type, and paragraphs are marked with outline-type identification. The book includes clear illustrations and multiple charts. The charts are helpful, and include information such as formulas, flowcharts/decision trees, medications, and problem causes. There are two appendices of tables and information. The book aims to be user-friendly.

The book’s major strengths are its comprehensiveness and organization. From a nursing standpoint, the book’s weakness is the sporadic technical and detailed writing. This may be related to the book appearing to be written for use by physicians (2 of the 3 editors are MDs and 74 of the 85 authors appear to be physicians). However, it is readable, informative, and instructive.

This book benefits a variety of healthcare professionals involved in nephrology. It provides much information to new care providers and can provide supplemental facts, considerations, and rationales to veterans of nephrology. Advanced care practitioners and physicians can use the technical information included in algorithms, formulas, and tables in providing care.

Robin Brittain, MSN, RN
Staff Nurse—Dialysis
Trident Medical Center
Charleston, SC
Member, ANNA’s Palmetto Chapter