Anesthesiology is a speciality in which practitioners are managing the sedation and anesthesia of surgical patients. In addition to a knowledge of the huge array of anesthetic drugs and their administration, anesthesiologists must also be familiar with a wide range of medical conditions and how anesthetic agents affect these conditions. Often, the patient will have more than one medical condition, demanding further expertise from the practitioner. Anesthesiologists are also involved in the overall care and management of critical care patients, necessitation a familiarity with critical care monitors and ventilators, and requiring them to manage patients whose conditions are serious and can quickly turn for the worse. Because of these factors, anesthesiologists need a reliable manual that is both comprehensive and geared for quick access, covering a full range of drug options and presenting guidelines for safe and effective patient care. At over 1100 pages in pocket format, the Oxford American Handbook of Anesthesia will meet this need. Note: Adapted from oxford Handbook of Anaesthesia, edited by Keith G. Allman and Iain H. Wilson. 2nd edition, 2006.