Physical Therapy and the Pulmonary Patient: Aspects of Evaluation and Treatment.

Physical Therapy and the Pulmonary Patient: Aspects of Evaluation and Treatment This book, the second issue of Physical Therapy in Health Care, vol 1, focuses on the assessment and treatment of the patient who has respiratory dysfunction. It is organized into six articles, each written by a different contributor. The contributors consisted of four physical therapists, a medical and surgical nursing clinical specialist, and a pharmacist. Each article begins and ends with a summary of its content. Well-organized tables and figures clearly reinforce the text's subject matter. The illustrations demonstrating clinical application of techniques presented achieve the purposes intended for their use.

The introductory article covers the roles of various medical disciplines involved in the care of the patient who had pulmonary impairment. An overview of the components of a chest evaluation follows. Specific emphasis is devoted to the treatment of the patient who has acute spinal cord injury and the pediatric patient with a pulmonary condition. The final two articles address the interpretation of arterial blood gases and pharmacologic intervention.

The authors provide the reader with basic, concise, and useful information on components of chest examination. Creative treatment techniques are offered for patients with spinal cord injuries and pediatric patients. An introduction to arterial blood gas measurements and drug therapy is included.

This book would be a good primer for practitioners not experienced in the care of patients who have pulmonary problems. The text lacks detail, however, and omits many areas of clinical practice that are important to the overall management of the patient who has respiratory disease.