First multi-year cumulation covers six years: 1965-70.

The Manual of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery was compiled as an aid to surgeons, residents, and students who want to acquire a broader knowl edge of the surgical techniques used in the upper gastrointestinal area. Of necessity, a considerable amount of the work of a general surgeon will be confined to this region. The techniques described herein are those preferred by the authors and most, but not all, of their colleagues at the Mayo Clinic. No attempt has been made to include all of the available possibilities and technical varia tions. Likewise, no attempt has been made to include many of the stapling techniques. Although they are good and quite useful, their inclusion would require a complete and separate volume. The omission of an accepted procedure is not meant as a criticism; our aim was to emphasize only the techniques that are most commonly used in day-to-day practice. Gains in knowledge about the anatomy and physiology of the esopha gus, stomach, and duodenum have been highly instrumental in the devel opment of surgical procedures in these areas, particularly the techniques for benign diseases (for example, ulcer, gastritis, and esophagitis).

DR. R. E. SMITH The first and second Coventry conferences on "Surgery of the Oesophagus" and "Surgery of the Lung" were arranged by Mr. Roger Abbey Smith, and they were so successful that he asked his colleague, Mr. J. A. Dyde to arrange one on "Surgery of the Heart." He willingly accepted this task and has also been joint Editor. This book reproduces as faithfully as possible the papers and the discussion on the various subjects included in the Coventry conference. The simple title "Surgery of the Heart" could be expanded to include the blood vessels. Especially important is the anatomy of the various combinations and permutations of the pulmonary and systemic vessels. These playa major role in the production of pulmonary hypertension. First class investigations by radiologists, and physiologists ascertain the precise situation which the surgeon will expect to find when he opens the chest; indeed will help him to make the right approach. Mr. W. G. Williams helped with the social programme which enabled people to meet people. Mr. A. Martin gave us valuable help in taping the recordings which Mrs. J. Jelley and Mrs. V. Bayliss-Stranks ably transcribed. The editorial staff of Plenum Publications have given us unsparing advice and guidance. v PROLOGUE DR. R. E. SMITH I welcome you all to this conference on Surgery of the Heart.

The book is the first of its type ever published in the English language, which provides comprehensive review of the history of cardiothoracic surgery in China and highlights the remarkable surgical heritage that the younger generation of Chinese surgeons is proud of. A unique feature of this volume is that many contributors are renowned expert and surgical leader in the field of cardiothoracic surgery, both nationally and internationally.

urgery has been impressive during the past two decades. Surgeons from many countries have accumulated outstanding experiences which are both unique and varied. With the aim of promoting international exchange of scientific and technical accomplishments in cardiothoracic surgery, we began in 1982 to consult with a number of leading cardiothoracic surgeons about compiling a book that would permit them to present their expertise. Through the untiring efforts of all the authors and sectional editors during the past three years, International Practice in Cardiothoracic Surgery is now published, both in an English language edition and in a Chinese language edition. There are one hundred and eleven chapters in eight sections, contributed by over a hundred authors from Brazil, Canada, China, England, France, Germany, Finland, Japan, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States of America. This book is not intended to be a textbook but a compilation of current views and tech nics from cardiothoracic surgeons with unique experiences who have made significant con tributions in certain subjects. No uniformity in format was requested. A certain amount f overlapping and even conflicting ideas are purposely collected to express the interna tional character of the book. We appreciate the warm support, cooperation, and hard work of all the authors, trans lators, sectional editors, and secretarial workers in completing the book.

Volume 3 of this series is concerned with geriatric aspects of surgical specialties: gynecology, orthopedics, general surgery, otorhinolaryn gology, and ophthalmology. Closely associated with these specialties is anesthesiology. Dermatology has an intermediate position between surgical and nonsurgical fields. The peculiarities of physiological and pathological aging of otgans and the consequences for diagnosis and therapy - presented in the first two volumes - are of great significance, especially for surgical special ties. There are a large number of pre-, intra-, and postoperative problems in multimorbid geriatric patients, e. g. , coronary insufficiency, brady arrhythmias, hypertonia, and hypotonia. While as recently as the tum of the century the age of 65 years was viewed as a contraindication for sur gery, today even older patients undergo operations on aortic aneurysms, bypass operations for coronary sclerosis, pulmonary resections, and abdominosacral resections of rectal carcinomas, for example. Pre requisite for successful surgery at an advanced age is good pre- and postoperative care of multimorbid patients. Physiological changes of the lungs with aging, the increased frequency in pneumonia and pulmonary just a few embolisms with age, and the decrease in receptors, to give examples, confront anesthetists with difficulties. The maxim "in old age a little less" is also applicable in this field. Only improved experimental gerontological research, possibly reaching even into anesthesia, will provide objective data for anesthesia in elderly patients. The skin is an organ that experiences characteristic qualitative and quantitative changes in old age.