Question for >/= mid-level residents re texts

[Bovie2Me]

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Well, we've made it through ABSITE for another year. This year though, I'll have time to do more reading (lab time). Can someone who has been reading the 2004 Sabiston compare it to the 2004 Cameron? How do these stack up to Greenfield and Norton, both of which are older? Generally, it seems that Cameron is strongest for clinical reading and Greenfield/Norton are better for ABSITE. Sabiston seems to cover both clinical & basic science, but not to the same degree as the others. Does this seem to hold true for the newer versions of Cameron and Sabiston? Sorry that I have to ask, but my bookstore only has Sabiston in stock so I cannot compare these texts myself.

 

[boston]

Also, another question to upper level residents -- no one replied to my earlier inquiry:

What do you guys like for an operative guide?

Chassin's vs. Zollingers vs. Master of Surgery?

Any preferences?

 

[Winged Scapula]

I'll bite.

I've got all the books mentioned in both posts above except Chassin's.

In the end I don't think it really matters WHAT you read, as long as you read. Each book appeals to different residents for different reasons. I do think Greenfield (which is the recommended text here) is probably better earlier on, as it has a lot more basic science, but it is a more difficult read than Cameron (which I prefer when I just wanna get some basics without detailed info). Friends and I have debated back and forth about which one is better to read first and again, I have fallen on the side that it doesn't really matter as long as you read.

I tend to use Zollingers or Skandalakis & Skandalakis when time is shorter and Mastery of Surgery at other times. Obviously I have not favorites; I think each book has its strengths and weaknesses.

 

[Bovie2Me]

Kimberli, thanks for the bite.

Having not seen the new Cameron, I wasn't sure whether the new version was just a re-binding of the previous version (the black book that's easy to crank through) or if it had undergone more of an overhaul of content like Sabiston did. I have to admit, paging through the new Sabiston I've realized that I'm a sucker for color photos and graphs to help break the monotony of the basic science info.

Regarding operative guides, I have both Chassin's and Mastery. In general, I look at Mastery before I scrub a case for the first time. After that I like Chassin for the quick, night-before procedural overview. I chose Chassin over Zollinger's simply because Chassin was the most recent at the time of purchase. I know Zollinger has since released a new version, which I haven't compared.