Transoesophageal Echocardiography in AnesthesiaJan Poelaert and Karl Skarvan, editors.London: BMJ Books, 2000. ISBN 0-7279-1278-X. 243 pp. $90.00. As the authors state in their preface, the aim of this text is to assist in the process of structured training, examination, continuous education, and quality assurance in the perioperative use of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). They have assembled an impressive group of leading experts in perioperative TEE from both sides of the Atlantic for this task. In general, this first-edition book succeeds in presenting a solid overview of perioperative TEE and serves as an excellent source of information for those clinicians having moderate experience with perioperative TEE. The book contains 16 chapters (each approximately 10–20 pages) that cover the wide range of important perioperative applications of TEE. The text is supplemented generously with numerous figures (black/white and color), illustrations, and tables, all of which enhance comprehension of material. For a first-edition book, there are very few typographical errors or misprints, none of which are major. However, the vernacular and syntactic differences between the European and American authors sometimes creates an uneven read from chapter to chapter. As with all multiauthored texts, the range of chapter quality (content, length, references) is rather wide. Fortunately, the best-written chapters of the text involve some of the most important aspects of perioperative TEE: “Evaluation of Global Left Ventricular Systolic Function,” “Evaluation of Left Ventricular Diastolic Function,” “Mitral Valve Disease and Evaluation,” “Transoesophageal Echocardiographic Evaluation of the Aortic Valve,” and “Echocardiography of the Thoracic Aorta.” The chapter on “Transoesophageal Echocardiography and Myocardial Ischema” is superb and comprehensive (113 references). The three chapters “Haemodynamics,” “Transoesophageal Echocardiographic Assessment of Cardiac Masses, Air, and Foreign Bodies,” and “Utility of Transoesophageal Echocardiography in Minimally Invasive and Minimal Access Cardiac Surgery” are also solid. However, the three chapters “Transoesophageal Echocardiography in Anesthesia - Prosthetic Valves,” “Right Ventricle,” and “Perioperative Transoesophageal Echocardiography in Congenital Heart Disease” are relatively short (8–10 pages) and somewhat incomplete. In conclusion, Transoesophageal Echocardiography in Anesthesia presents a solid overview of perioperative TEE written by many of the acknowledged experts in the field. Although not directed to clinicians having advanced skills, this book succeeds in providing an excellent source of information for those clinicians having moderate experience with perioperative TEE.