Book excerpt: Woodhead and Wicker's new text will be the foremost reference source for all perioperative practitioners. The content mirrors the dynamics of modern perioperative practice by focusing on surgical interventions in all the environments in which it is currently practised, including A&E departments, general practice clinics, intensive care units, and at the site of serious accidents. Theatre practice is becoming increasingly specialist; this book does not attempt to to reflect the needs of all specialties, but instead concentrates on the principles of practice, applicable to any setting and any specialty. It has a very practical focus - it aims to be the book that nurses and ODPs reach for in order to answer their practical questions - but is not be procedure-driven. Instead, it sets out the principles of perioperative practice, from which practitioners will be able to develop their own practice techniques. Reflects principles of practice, applicable to any perioperative environment Strong practical focus Edited by two of the biggest 'names' in the international perioperative nursing sphere, with contributions from other well-known and authoritative sources Excellent opportunities to develop links with the National Association of Theatre Nurses and the European Operating Room Association The team of contributors are experienced practitioners working directly with perioperative patients or in perioperative education An original model for ethical practice is proposed: the Reid model is the first such ethical model to be proposed for the perioperative environment Includes one of the only chapters in any perioperative book which specifically focuses on the care of the elderly. The research chapter encourages the use of evidence based practice and the development of perioperative research The unique chapter on care of the mentally ill will support practitioners who are not qualified in psychiatry to care for mentally ill patients. This is an area where there is a great information deficit Key points listed for each chapter Sections have been completely revised from previous edition - key subject areas now stand-alone chapters rather than sections within much larger chapters - creates ease of access for user Change of editorship Recognises the diversity of perioperative environments much more explicitly than previous edition