As perioperative specialists with wide-ranging knowledge and expertise, anesthesiologists are in a position to provide significant enrichment to medical education. As this fact is now widely recognized amongst medical schools, anesthesiology is increasingly being incorporated into core medical curriculum across the country. Medical students are participating in anesthesia environments with increasing frequency, and as clinical educators, we are challenged with the task of facilitating and optimizing their learning experience. To this end, a concise, readable, and relevant text is an invaluable resource. The Ottawa Anesthesia Primer serves as such a resource and should be considered a useful roadmap for new anesthesia trainees.

The updated electronic version, the ePrimer, (the print version has previously been reviewed)1 is available in iBook, ePub, and DRM format. The iBook version is reviewed here. The ePrimer is available for purchase through the iTunes store, and content is accessed through the Apple® iBooks application. The authors have taken advantage of the versatility of the iPad and have incorporated a number of extra features, including flashcards, an anesthesia glossary, and a note taking utility. Perhaps the most novel and impressive feature is the seamless incorporation of various online resources. The book and its features are easy to navigate for anyone familiar with an iPad interface, though an online instructional video is available if needed (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5y4E88gsNQ).

Each of the 26 chapters provides an introductory discussion on a core anesthesia topic. The tone is generally conversational, and the content forms an appropriate introduction to the practical aspects of anesthesiology. At the same time, the Ottawa Anesthesia ePrimer maintains a significant emphasis on underlying principles from basic science and medicine. There is some variation in writing style throughout the book, and the level of detail contained in each chapter may also vary at times. Nevertheless, if some discussion appears to be lacking in a particular chapter, it most likely can be found elsewhere in the text.

Despite some minor stylistic variation, the text’s format is consistent and easy to follow throughout. A particularly notable strength is the consistent inclusion of chapter outlines, key points, clinical pearls, and focused review questions. Illustrations and tables are plentiful, and these are easily magnified without disrupting the reader’s position in the text. Each chapter contains multiple links to online materials, including practice guidelines, peer-reviewed papers, online learning modules, and instructional videos. Many of these resources are relatively in-depth and will be of interest not only to the anesthesia learner but also to the clinician/teacher looking for an up-to-date review.

There are very few issues with overall implementation. The text occasionally cuts off at the bottom of a section, table, or flashcard, but this issue is relatively infrequent and is usually corrected by viewing the ePrimer in the standard landscape format. As another inconvenience, certain iPad swipe gestures bring readers back to the table of contents, resulting in readers losing their place in the text. Also, there are a few places throughout the book where basic graphic content (e.g., positioning for intubation) is available only through online links, although this sort of essential content ought to be included in the ePrimer itself. Overall, however, these issues are relatively minor and interfere only minimally with book use.

The Ottawa Anesthesia ePrimer provides the anesthesia learner with a good introduction to the basics of day-to-day anesthesia practice while also providing a view to the depth and breadth of our specialty. The electronic version of this textbook serves as a useful resource for any student rotating through anesthesiology and would be a worthwhile addition to the online library of any medical school. It would also be a valuable addition to the personal libraries of students with a serious interest in pursuing a career in anesthesiology. Finally, the ePrimer may also serve as a helpful resource to the clinician-teacher, as it provides a useful framework for teaching and discussion around anesthesia topics.