A textbook on physics is not likely to be the first book an anesthesiologist reaches for on their bookshelf, if there is even one there to grab. For some of us, it has been many years since we thought about the subject, let alone intentionally picked up a physics textbook. The very mention of the topic conjures up images of stuffy classrooms, droning lecturers, and dusty books filled with highly technical equations and complex mathematics. Even when studying for a board exam, a review of physics is often either relegated to the “I’ll cover that later” section or skipped altogether. However, if you are an anesthesia care provider and want to add a physics text to your shelf, the book Physics in Anaesthesia not only provides a concise review of the basic principles of physics, but also effectively explains how they apply specifically to the practice of anesthesia.
This text is clearly written for the “nonphysicist” anesthesia provider and is intended for not only attending physicians, but also all anesthesia providers, including residents, medical students, and nurse anesthetists. The book seems to have been written primarily as a board review text, specifically covering topics that the authors state were chosen for their relevance to the Fellowship of the British Royal College of Anaesthetists’ exam. Although I am sure it serves very well as a review text for persons who are preparing for board examinations, I personally found it useful as a reference and review text for the practicing anesthesia provider.
The book is divided into 29 chapters, each covering a unique physical property or system. The chapters are concise, well-organized, and stand independently enough that a focused review of a specific subject is easily conducted. The chapters cover a broad range of topics, from fundamental principles, such as ideal gas laws, mechanics, and the behavior of waves, to complex systems, such as lasers and magnetic resonance imaging machines. There are also several chapters reviewing mathematical concepts, physical constants and units, and statistics.
Each chapter follows a similar format, starting with a basic discussion of the subject followed by appropriate definitions and an explanation of the laws governing the topic at hand. Numerous illustrations are provided and are effectively used to further demonstrate these principles. As one may expect from any physics text, there are a number of equations and some mathematics. However, each equation is solved in a logical, step-wise manner with excellent explanations, and the math is also thoroughly explained. Examples using either anesthesia or operating room equipment are then used to demonstrate the clinical application of the physics principle to real-world practice. A summary table outlining the key points from the chapter is provided. Each chapter concludes with a series of board exam-type single-best answer and multiple-choice questions. These allow the reader to test their comprehension of the topics covered in the chapter.
For example, in the chapter titled “Pressure Measurement,” the basic definitions of absolute versus relative pressure as well as a table with common values are provided and discussed. The rest of the chapter is divided into seven sections, each detailing a different clinical application of pressure measurement. The authors use a series of illustrations and equations to demonstrate the different ways that the physics principle is used clinically in various operating room devices, such as syringes, pressure limiting valves, gas cylinders, and blood pressure sensors. Multiple examples with complete mathematical solutions are included throughout. The chapter concludes with four single-best answer and four multiple-choice questions on the topic.
The book is written and published in the United Kingdom, and consequently, some of the examples and solutions are provided in units that may be unfamiliar to readers in the United States. However, the basic principles are universal, and many of the tables provide values in both SI (International System of Units) and “standard” units.
Overall, Physics in Anaesthesia succeeds in providing a concise and easy to read review text covering what has historically been a dry and difficult to present topic. The book is easy to understand and sufficiently covers most topics one would expect from such a book. It seems well suited for those studying for exams, but it can also serve as a good reference text for all levels of anesthesia providers.
As technology advances, new medical devices will continue to creep into our workspace. They offer a dizzying array of features, promising to make our patients safer and our jobs easier. A solid understanding of physics can only help us understand how these devices operate and what limitations they have. It can prevent them from becoming nothing more than magical “black boxes” and is perhaps the main reason physics should not be something we review for board exams and forget.
