A New York Times BestsellerShortlisted for both the Guardian First Book Prize and the Costa Book AwardLonglisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-FictionA Finalist for the Pol Roger Duff Cooper PrizeA Finalist for the Wellcome Book PrizeA Financial Times Best Book of the YearAn Economist Best Book of the YearA Washington Post Notable Book of the YearWhat is it like to be a brain surgeon? How does it feel to hold someone's life in your hands, to cut into the stuff that creates thought, feeling, and reason? How do you live with the consequences of performing a potentially lifesaving operation when it all goes wrong?In neurosurgery, more than in any other branch of medicine, the doctor's oath to "do no harm" holds a bitter irony. Operations on the brain carry grave risks. Every day, leading neurosurgeon Henry Marsh must make agonizing decisions, often in the face of great urgency and uncertainty.If you believe that brain surgery is a precise and exquisite craft, practiced by calm and detached doctors, this gripping, brutally honest account will make you think again. With astonishing compassion and candor, Marsh reveals the fierce joy of operating, the profoundly moving triumphs, the harrowing disasters, the haunting regrets, and the moments of black humor that characterize a brain surgeon's life.Do No Harm provides unforgettable insight into the countless human dramas that take place in a busy modern hospital. Above all, it is a lesson in the need for hope when faced with life's most difficult decisions. Read more

“The surgical interventions in these pages are dizzying, but the fact that Jay Wellons can write as well as he can operate provides a whole other level of amazement.”—Ann Patchett, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Commonwealth“A powerful and moving account of the intense joys and sorrows of being a pediatric neurosurgeon.”—Henry Marsh, New York Times bestselling author of Do No Harm: Stories of Life, Death, and Brain SurgeryONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New Yorker, Publishers WeeklyTumors, injuries, ruptured vascular malformations—there is almost no such thing as a non-urgent brain surgery when it comes to kids. For a pediatric neurosurgeon working in the medical minefield of the brain—in which a single millimeter in every direction governs something that makes us essentially human—every day presents the challenge, and the opportunity, to give a new lease on life to a child for whom nothing is yet fully determined and all possibilities still exist. In All That Moves Us, Dr. Jay Wellons pulls back the curtain to reveal the profoundly moving triumphs, haunting complications, and harrowing close calls that characterize the life of a pediatric neurosurgeon, bringing the high-stakes drama of the operating room to life with astonishing candor and honest compassion. Reflecting on lessons learned over twenty-five years and thousands of operations completed on some of the most vulnerable and precious among us, Wellons recounts in gripping detail the moments that have shaped him as a doctor, as a parent, and as the only hope for countless patients whose young lives are in his hands.Wellons shares scenes of his early days as the son of a military pilot, the years of grueling surgical training, and true stories of what it’s like to treat the brave children he meets on the threshold between life and death. From the little boy who arrived at the hospital near death from a gunshot wound to the head, to the eight-year-old whose shredded nerves were repaired using suture as fine as human hair, to the brave mother-to-be undergoing fetal spinal cord surgery, All That Moves Us is an unforgettable portrait of the countless human dramas that take place in a busy modern children’s hospital—and a meditation on the marvel of life as seen from under the white-hot lights of the operating room. Read more

“Spinal Health and Disorders: A Comprehensive Guide” is an in-depth resource designed for healthcare professionals, students, and anyone interested in understanding the complexities of spinal health. This authoritative guide covers the anatomy and physiology of the spine, common and rare spinal disorders, diagnostic techniques, and the latest advancements in treatment and rehabilitation. From degenerative disc disease and scoliosis to spinal cord injuries and surgical interventions, the book combines evidence-based information with practical insights. Rich with illustrations, case studies, and expert commentary, it serves as both a reference and a learning tool, empowering readers to make informed decisions in clinical and personal settings. Read more

Bull in the Ring is the story of an average young man trying to take a place among some of the most talented women and men in our society- neurosurgeons. This memoir traces his steps, beginning as a small boy witnessing his neurosurgeon father deal with two badly injured men in an emergency room. The story continues as he tries to prove he can compete athletically and intellectually through high school, college, medical school, and finally long years of surgical training. In doing so, he must deal with the most difficult problems in human illness and injury through the lens of an everyday person, while wondering the entire time if he had been delusional in dreaming he could follow in the footprints of giants. More importantly, it's the story of how a brilliant, tenacious specialty wages a daily struggle against death, but only wins when care and compassion are involved. Read more

Neurocritical Care is a primer for physicians seeing patients in the neurointensive care unit, with a specific focus on interventions in acute neurologic disorders. Neurocritical care in daily practice involves management of deteriorating patients, treatment of complications, along with end-of-life care assisting families with problematic decisions. A great number of pertinent topics can be found in this case-based book.Written with a conversational tone and using a case-based approach, the emphasis is on how to oversee comparatively common clinical problems emergently. The goal is to provide readily implementable solutions and to challenge the reader with making acute decisions in common patient examples. The brief discussions boil down to the essentials and bare necessities of neurocritical care. This third edition has over twenty new cases with new coverage on contemporary issues. Expansion of previously discussed topics include additional complications in traumatic brain injury and subarachnoid hemorrhage, complications after craniotomy, elusive rapid progressive brain disease, "wake-up stroke" immune checkpoint inhibitor and CAR-T cell therapy complications, complications of LVAD, and early prognostication and communication conundrums. An easy read for new physicians, residents, and medical students, it provides practical advice from the authors' seasoned experiences. Read more

Becoming a doctor is hard. Becoming a surgeon, even harder. Becoming a neurosurgeon as an Indian woman who wants to have a healthy work-home life balance and kids? Almost impossible. But not for Dr. Sheri Dewan. Always interested in science growing up, it wasn't until neurosurgery saved her mother's life from a ruptured brain aneurysm that Dr. Dewan started on the path toward becoming one of about two hundred female neurosurgeons in the United States. The trials, tribulations, and wrath of not only her unsupportive male colleagues, but some female as well, helped to shape Dr. Dewan into the confident neurosurgeon and woman she is today. Cutting a Path: The Power of Purpose, Discipline, and Determination is the inspiring, eye-opening memoir of how Dr. Dewan overcame numerous personal and professional obstacles to reach her dream. Braided with advice that is applicable to anyone facing adversity achieving their career goals, her story will make you ask yourself, "When the world tests you, do you have what it takes to shut out the noise, check in with yourself, and follow your passion?" Read more

The story of one man's evolution from naive and ambitious young intern to world-class neurosurgeon.With poignant insight and humor, Frank Vertosick Jr., MD, describes some of the greatest challenges of his career, including a six-week-old infant with a tumor in her brain, a young man struck down in his prime by paraplegia, and a minister with a .22-caliber bullet lodged in his skull. Told through intimate portraits of Vertosick’s patients and unsparing yet fascinatingly detailed descriptions of surgical procedures, When the Air Hits Your Brain—the culmination of decades spent struggling to learn an unforgiving craft—illuminates both the mysteries of the mind and the realities of the operating room. Read more

A brilliant and warm memoir that captures the intense emotional and medical world of pediatric neurosurgery.In this moving, unflinching, and inspiring book, Dr. David Sandberg, an internationally reknown pediatric neurosurgeon, brilliantly combines his deep scientific and medical knowledge with raw emotion and unforgettably powerful stories of courage and love. The brain is the most complicated and perplexing of our organs, and it is also the one that makes us human. When it comes to a child's brain, the hearts of those who love them become inextricably linked to that story. In Brain and Heart, Dr. Sandberg describes the joy, heartbreak, uncertainty, and physical and emotional challenges that come with performing brain surgery on children. What makes this book different from previously published medical memoirs is Dr. Sandberg’s unique honesty about what goes through his mind when he makes the most complex choices with life-changing consequences. While most medical memoirs focus largely on the patient perspective, Dr. Sandberg allows readers access to his private thoughts when making agonizing decisions—from giving the worst news imaginable to facing very scary surgical complications. A father himself, Dr. Sandberg understands deeply how every one of his patients is an entire world, and his devotion to his patients and his work shines through on every page. We follow him as he finds his way to neurosurgery as a young doctor through to his most heartbreaking cases and greatest triumphs. We also travel with him to underserved countries, where lifesaving surgeries that are common here are almost nonexistent, and Dr. Sandberg shares the stories of the dedicated doctors and surgeons trying to enact change. Brain and Heart is an unforgettable book that will strenghten our sense of compassion and hope. Read more

An Economist Best Book of 2024“If you are at all curious about the brain or the surgeons who operate on it, Gray Matters is a must read and Dr. Theodore Schwartz is the perfect guide, a master brain surgeon and superbly talented writer. I have not read a better biography of our shared profession, and in Schwartz's talented hands, the most enigmatic 3 1/2 pounds of tissue in the known universe comes to light in remarkable and revelatory ways.”—Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, and New York Times and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Keep Sharp: Build a Better Brain at Any AgeA popular biography of brain surgery, by one of its preeminent practitionersWe’ve all heard the phrase “it’s not brain surgery.” But what exactly is brain surgery? It’s a profession that is barely a hundred years old and profoundly connects two human beings, but few know how it works, or its history. How did early neurosurgeons come to understand the human brain—an extraordinarily complex organ that controls everything we do, and yet at only three pounds is so fragile? And how did this incredibly challenging and lifesaving specialty emerge?   In this warm, rigorous, and deeply insightful book, Dr. Theodore H. Schwartz explores what it’s like to hold the scalpel, wield the drill, extract a tumor, fix a bullet hole, and remove a blood clot—when every second can mean life or death. Drawing from the author’s own cases, plus media, sports, and government archives, this seminal work delves into all the brain-related topics that have long-consumed public curiosity, like what really happened to JFK, President Biden’s brain surgery, and the NFL’s management of CTE. Dr. Schwartz also surveys the field’s latest incredible advances and discusses the philosophical questions of the unity of the self and the existence of free will.     A neurosurgeon as well as a professor of neurosurgery at Weill Cornell Medicine, one of the busiest and most highly ranked neurosurgery centers in the world, Dr. Schwartz tells this story like no one else could. Told through anecdote and clear explanation, this is the ultimate cultural and scientific history of a literally mind-blowing human endeavor, one that cuts to the core of who we are. Read more

For 40 years, Fischer’s Mastery of Surgery has provided expert, highly illustrated coverage of the procedures that general surgeons and trainees need to know. The fully revised eighth edition, under the editorial leadership of Drs. E. Christopher Ellison, Gilbert R. Upchurch Jr., Philip A. Efron, Steven D. Wexner, Nancy D. Perrier, V. Suzanne Klimberg, John H. Stewart IV, Valerie W. Rusch, Jon C. Gould, Susan Galandiuk, Timothy M. Pawlik, William C. Chapman, Benjamin K. Poulose, Peter K. Henke, Alicia M. Mohr, Saleem Islam, Anne M.R. Agur, Carol Scott-Conner, and David Renton continues the tradition of excellence with two full-color volumes that include the essentials of diagnosis, anatomy, and pre-operative planning while maintaining a focus on clear, step-by-step depictions and descriptions of procedures.  Read more

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Human Intelligence is soaring in Dr. Danny’s neurosurgical patients!A lavishly enriched blood supply piques Dr. Danny Tilson’s interest as he performs a routine surgery on Varg Dagmar’s brain. He soon discovers that it’s not just his patient’s cranial anatomy that’s remarkable, but his superlative mental capabilities as well.˃˃˃ What’s at the root of his patients’ mysterious soaring IQs?As more and more patients surface with similar mystifying profiles, Danny searches for answers. If he can figure out the cause of this surge in intelligent IQs, the ramifications to humankind could be staggering.˃˃˃ This is Book Three in the medical and personal adventures of Dr. Danny Tilson. Danny wonders, however. Is this mysterious brain power too good to be true?Scroll Up And Grab Your Copy Of Collateral Circulation Today! ***** Collateral Circulation: a Medical Mystery is Book Three in The Doctor Danny Tilson Novels. Book One: Operation Neurosurgeon Book Two: Silent Fear: a Medical Mystery (also an audiobook) Book Four: Secondary Impact Although the Doctor Danny Tilson Novels are a series, each book can stand-alone. If you enjoy the Dr. Danny Tilson Novels, his daughter Annabel has her own series of medical and personal adventures during medical school: Book One: Dead Still Book Two: Deadly Delusions Book Three: Desperate to Die Book Four: Death Grip Book Five: Downright Dead Book Six: Dangerous Doctor Author’s website: http://barbaraebel.weebly.com Read more

The quintessential, authoritative, and reader-friendly rhinology referenceRhinology: Diseases of the Nose, Sinuses, and Skull Base edited by distinguished clinicians Peter H. Hwang, David W. Kennedy, Richard R. Orlandi, and Peter John Wormald brings together the collective wisdom, experience, and vision of preeminent thought leaders in a comprehensive rhinology reference. With approximately 1,000 pages, this tome offers in-depth coverage of all core topics in the subspecialty of rhinology, ranging from rhinosinusitis to endoscopic skull base reconstruction and more. The updated resource reflects the significant growth in knowledge and understanding of anatomy, pathophysiology, medical therapies, surgical techniques, and technological innovations in rhinology that have occurred since the publication of the 2012 edition.The second edition features a total of 69 chapters—reflecting the evolving depth and breadth of the field. It encompasses the pathogenesis, current thinking, diagnosis, and management of chronic rhinosinusitis, the pathology and management of less common disorders, and the surgical techniques and postoperative management of skull base lesions and sinonasal tumors. Highlights include updated content on olfaction, new material on biologic therapies, enhanced coverage of office-based rhinologic procedures, and an updated section on endoscopic nasopharyngectomy.Key FeaturesContributions from a who's who of renowned rhinology specialists and surgical experts from across the globeA total of 37 videos performed by surgical masters highlight the latest surgical innovations, including 16 that are new to this editionNew, in-depth reviews of endoscopic transorbital surgery for skull base and orbital pathologiesAn expanded image library of about 1,000 images features illuminating illustrations by medical illustrator Christine Gralapp, alongside high-quality diagnostic and intraoperative imagingThis multimedia resource builds on the widely acclaimed first edition, providing otolaryngologists, rhinologists, and residents in training with detailed information regarding the management of sinusitis, rhinologic conditions, and oncologic disorders affecting this region. Read more

A perfect blend of medical drama and spiritual insight, Gray Matter is a fascinating account of Dr. David Levy’s decision to begin asking his patients if he could pray for them before surgery. Some are thrilled. Some are skeptical. Some are hostile, and some are quite literally transformed by the request. Each chapter focuses on a specific case, opening with a detailed description of the patient’s diagnosis and the procedure that will need to be performed, followed by the prayer “request.” From there, readers get to look over Dr. Levy’s shoulder as he performs the operation, and then we wait—right alongside Dr. Levy, the patients, and their families—to see the final results. Dr. Levy’s musings on what successful and unsuccessful surgical results imply about God, faith, and the power of prayer are honest and insightful. As we watch him come to his ultimate conclusion that no matter what the results of the procedure are, “God is good,” we cannot help but be truly moved and inspired. Read more

The definitive guide to surgical management of epilepsy in pediatric patientsThis fully revised and updated second edition of Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery, edited by internationally renowned pediatric neurosurgeons and epilepsy surgery experts Oğuz Çataltepe and George Jallo, fills a void in the literature, encompassing the full spectrum of topics related to the surgical treatment of intractable epilepsy and seizures in children. The prodigiously illustrated book and its accompanying videos feature contributions from distinguished specialists in several different countries across a wide range of disciplines.From epidemiology, genetics, pathology, preoperative electrophysiological assessment and neuroimaging to state-of-the-art surgical approaches, this remarkable resource covers the full depth and breadth of surgical management of pediatric epilepsy. Topics include awake anesthesia, intracranial stimulation and mapping techniques, temporal and extratemporal epilepsy surgery techniques, insular, multilobar and hemispheric surgery approaches, and diverse disconnection, neuromodulation, and ablative procedures. Insights are provided on postoperative issues including seizure control, neuropsychological and psychosocial outcomes, surgical failure and re-operation, and much more.Key FeaturesA review of topographic anatomy of the cerebral cortex and white matter with numerous illustrations provides enhanced understanding of eloquent anatomy.Discussion of cutting-edge techniques such as stereo-electroencephalography, multi-modality imaging and tractography, endoscopic and laser ablation approaches in hypothalamic hamartomas, peri-insular quadrantotomy, and various hemispherotomy approaches.Overview of common cortical stimulation and mapping techniques including magnetic and electrical stimulation modalities, functional MRI, and the WADA test.13 videos demonstrate seizure semiology, stimulation, awake surgery, hemispherotomy, amygdalohippocampectomy, and endoscopic corpus callosotomy.This state-of-the-art resource is a must-have for epilepsy surgeons and epileptologists. It will also greatly benefit neurosurgeons, neurologists, clinical neuropsychologists, electrophysiologists, neuroradiologists, residents, fellows, and medical students involved in the assessment and surgical management of epilepsy in pediatric patients. Read more

Thieme's classic, indispensable guide to sectional imaging of the craniumNow in a revised and expanded fourth edition, this exquisitely illustrated text/atlas by renowned experts, provides you with the cognitive tools to visualize and interpret CT and MR images of the cranium. In exacting detail, the normal structures of the brain, as seen in the three orthogonal planes (axial, sagittal, and coronal), are revealed with unparalleled accuracy, making the volume a highly useful aid in daily practice, for teaching, and to provide an anatomic baseline for research on the brain.Beyond the clinical utility of the contents, the work is an aesthetic pleasure to behold, making learning and comprehension of complex material as simple and easy as possible.Key Features:Detailed brain anatomy shown in the three orthogonal planes; two-page spreads showing imaging studies keyed to the graphics using numbers that are consistent throughoutGraphic representation of the major arterial and venous territories, and CNS spaces, supra- and infratentorialThe most important neurofunctional systems revealed in multiplanar parallel sections, including detail on the potential sites of lesions and corresponding neurologic deficitsNew to the fourth edition:All X-ray and CT-/MR images replaced with new high-resolution CT and MR imagesHigh resolution 3-Tesla MR images of the brainstem, 7-Tesla-images, fractional anisotropy (FA) maps as well as quantitative susceptibility maps (QSM)New material on temporal bone, brain maturation, neurofunctional systemsClinical context updated and expandedCranial Neuroimaging and Clinical Neuroanatomy is an essential reference guide for neuroradiologists and neurosurgeons (in training and in practice) and will also be welcomed by many neurologists. Read more

A “lyrical, inspirational” story of doctors who changed the health care of an African nation (Tom Brokaw, author of The Greatest Generation)Dr. Dilan Ellegala arrives in Tanzania, shocked to find the entire country has just three brain surgeons for its population of forty-two million. Haydom Lutheran Hospital lacks even the most basic surgical tools, not even a saw to open a patient’s skull. Here, people with head injuries or brain tumors heal on their own or die. When confronted with a villager suffering from a severe head trauma, Dilan buys a tree saw from a farmer, sterilizes it, and then uses it to save the man’s life.Yet Dilan realizes that there are far too many neurosurgery patients for one person to save, and of course he will soon be leaving Tanzania. He needs to teach someone his skills. He identifies a potential student in Emmanuel Mayegga, a stubborn assistant medical officer who grew up in a mud hut. Though Mayegga has no medical degree, Dilan sees that Mayegga has the dexterity, intelligence, and determination to do brain surgery. Over six months, he teaches Mayegga how to remove tumors and treat hydrocephalus. And then, perhaps more important, Dilan teaches Mayegga how to pass on his newfound skills. Mayegga teaches a second Tanzanian, who teaches a third. It’s a case of teach-a-man-to-fish meets brain surgery.As he guides these Tanzanians to do things they never thought possible, Dilan challenges the Western medical establishment to do more than send vacationing doctors on short-term medical missions. He discovers solutions that could transform health care for two billion people across the world.A Surgeon in the Village is the incredible and riveting account of one man’s push to “train-forward”—to change our approach to aid and medical training before more lives are needlessly lost. His story is a testament to the transformational power of teaching and the ever-present potential for change. As many as seventeen million people die every year because of a shortage of surgeons, more than die from AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined. Dilan Ellegala and other visionaries are boldly proposing ways of saving lives. Read more

For the longest time, neuroendovascular procedures have been done through the femoral artery (TFA) located in the thigh and groin region. Over the last decade, interventional cardiologists have pioneered a newer approach: by utilizing the radial artery in the wrist to access the arterial system, a new procedure has been employed: radial access. Numerous studies and randomized controlled trials have demonstrated this to be a safer way of performing endovascular procedures, and a majority of the interventional cardiac procedures are performed via radial access.The neurointerventional community, however, has been slow to adopt this innovation. The radial access innovation is finally making its way to the neurointerventional community. Radial Access for Neurointervention has all the literature supporting illustrating how radial access is useful to the neuro community. Detailed chapters describe the techniques of radial access including positioning the patient on the table, driving the microcatheters intracranially, aneurysms treatment, AVM/AVF embolizations, complications management, and more. Readily enhanced throughout with pictures and movies, this first-of-its-kind book will guide neurointerventionalists to transition their practices to radial first. Read more

Dive into the intricate world of Glioblastoma Multiforme with our comprehensive treatise, exploring its pathophysiology, treatment modalities, and prognostic insights. From understanding the genetic alterations driving this aggressive brain cancer to delving into the latest advancements in surgery, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy, this guide equips readers with in-depth knowledge essential for medical professionals and researchers. Discover how lifestyle modifications, psychosocial support, and integrative medicine can complement conventional treatments, empowering patients on their journey to confront and manage Glioblastoma. Whether you're seeking to expand your medical expertise or support a loved one facing this diagnosis, this treatise offers a holistic perspective, grounded in scientific evidence and aimed at fostering hope and empowerment in the face of adversity. Read more

Discover the ultimate resource for navigating the complexities of Chiari Malformation with 'A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding, Managing, and Thriving with Chiari Malformation.' This definitive treatise offers in-depth insights into the condition's nuances, providing readers with a thorough understanding of its etiology, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options. From exploring neuroanatomy to discussing emerging therapeutic strategies, this guide covers every aspect of Chiari Malformation comprehensively. Whether you're a healthcare professional seeking expert knowledge or an individual affected by Chiari Malformation searching for guidance, this book equips you with essential information to empower your journey towards optimal health and well-being. With actionable advice, evidence-based recommendations, and holistic approaches, this guide serves as a beacon of hope and empowerment for those navigating the challenges of living with Chiari Malformation. Read more