Dr. G. M. Woerlee is well known in my department both as a clinician and teacher. Years ofexperience have taught him that the problems discussed here have as yet not been treated in this way in any single work. In my opinion there is a real need for such abook, not only for resident and specialist anaesthetists, but also among surgeons and internists, specialist and trainee. Management of a patient in the operating room is a matter of teamwork, and knowledge of the problems encountered is the basis of any mutual understanding! The information which has been assembled and clearly presented in this book should prove to be of great assistance in guiding our patients though an important phase of their lives. Professor Dr. Joh. Spierdijk, Department of Anaesthesia, University Hospital of Leyden, The Netherlands. vii PREFACE Much of the literature being published in the field of anesthesiology today concerns a narrow, in-depth scrutiny of a specific area or anesthetic technique that does not provide the novice with an overview ofthe perioperativeperiod and the commoneveryday problems faced by the anesthetist. Dr G. M. Woerlee of the University of Leiden with his book, "Com­ mon Perioperative Problems and the Anaesthetist", has filled a void in the current anes­ thetic literature. Dr Woerlee reviews in a straightforward, no-frills manner problems routinely encountered during the perioperative period. Other anesthesia textbooks do not cover the material in quite the same logical, step-by-step fashion.