Cystic Fibrosis Medical Care is too big to fit into a clinician's pocket and too small to justify a place on a reference book shelf. It is described as a practical and easy to use reference book, and by the authors as an introduction to the principles and practices of cystic fibrosis medical care. In doing so it has missed its target audience and has fallen between two stools. Some chapters provide an excellent overview of difficult issues surrounding cystic fibrosis care, such as Chapter 3 on the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis, while others, particularly Chapter 4 on the treatment of pulmonary exacerbations, did not address the problem in any depth.

In addition, there is a strong transatlantic emphasis on practical care which may not always be applicable to European cystic fibrosis clinics. As such, this book will appeal to North American practitioners who, accepting its limitations, may wish only to dip into some of the complex issues surrounding cystic fibrosis care.—KHVT