Book Review

Transesophageal Echocardiography

N Engl J Med 1993; 328:1287April 29, 1993

Article

Transesophageal Echocardiography
Edited by Yasu Oka and Paul L. Goldiner. 338 pp., illustrated. Philadelphia, J.B. Lippincott, 1992. $150. ISBN: 0-397-51158-2

Transesophageal Echocardiography is an excellent introduction for the novice, yet will be useful to experienced echocardiographers as well. Specialists in anesthesiology, cardiac surgery, and radiology contribute to the book by reflecting on their 10-year experience with transesophageal echocardiography at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. The authors have employed an abundance of diagrams and color plates to assist the reader in understanding this visually dependent specialty. The introduction gives an excellent historical perspective on the development of transesophageal echocardiography. The book is laid out in three parts. Part I, which focuses on technical considerations, introduces the principles of echocardiography and facilitates the understanding of the echo machine. Part II deals with the examination of the heart and aorta and illustrates the technique with color plates and diagrams. Chapters on the examination of valves and methods for quantitating valvular regurgitation and stenosis are excellent. Part III includes sections on intraoperative applications for evaluating hypotension, intracardiac air, pleural effusions, and the placement of intraortic balloon pumps and cannulas.

Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography is increasingly being used as physicians develop skill with the equipment, as cardiac surgeons use it to facilitate valvular surgery, and as intensivists recognize its usefulness in critically ill patients. However, the high cost of equipment and the requirement for technical expertise have limited its use. Readers interested in the topic will benefit by adding this book to their libraries. It will serve as both an introduction and reference as they pursue transesophageal echocardiography.

Bruce A. Bollen, M.D.
University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242