Minimally invasive or laparoscopic surgery is becoming increasingly commonplace, as technology has enabled a minimally invasive approach to be offered as a feasible alternative to conventional open surgery for a number of important surgical procedures. This comprehensive, but concise and practically oriented introduction to the subject was first published in 2004 and will be of value to all anaesthetists with an interest in minimally invasive techniques. It begins by covering the key aspects of basic physiology, moves on to patient preparation and positioning, monitoring, the anaesthetic procedures themselves (including possible complications and contraindications and easy-to-follow 'how to' guides for a number of key procedures) and, finally, post-operative pain. Written by a leading expert in the field, from a well-known European centre of excellence, it is essential reading for anaesthetists and intensivists at all levels of expertise.
The ability to understand and perform well in psychometric tests is crucial to anyone who wants to advance their career. Written by Gareth Lewis and Gene Crozier, leading experts on psychometric testi
The blush is a ubiquitous yet little understood phenomenon which can be triggered by a number of self-conscious emotions such as shame, embarrassment, shyness, pride and guilt. The field of psychology has seen a recent surge in the research of such emotions, yet blushing remains a relatively neglected area. This unique volume brings together leading researchers from a variety of disciplines to review emerging research on the blush, discussing in depth issues that have arisen and stimulating new theorizing to indicate future directions for research. Topics covered include: the psychophysiology of the blush; developmental aspects; measurement issues; its evolutionary significance and the role of similar colour signals in the social life of other species; its relation to embarrassment, shame and social anxiety; and the rationale for, and clinical trials of, interventions to help people suffering from blushing phobia.