The author of this handbook, Annette Vegas, is currently Director, Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE) at the Toronto General Hospital. Dr. Vegas is the director of the Toronto Perioperative TEE Symposium and is well-known in the Canadian field of TEE. This small spiral-bound handbook is divided into 11 chapters that cover content extending from basic TEE knowledge foundations (the 20 basic TEE views) to more advanced specialized images and topics in TEE. Examples of the latter include advanced TEE views, TEE images of various congenital heart diseases, and TEE-related images in patients with ventricular assist devices. The chapters in this concise text are clearly subdivided so the reader can easily search specific topics without getting lost in the details. With more than 450 clinical images and illustrations, including three-dimensional TEE images, this work is a visual success. The quality and depth of information incorporated into such a succinct package makes this text quite a tour de force.

This reviewer found an earlier version of this text, edited in 2003 by the University Health Network in Toronto, incredibly useful for discussions with residents in training on a variety of perioperative TEE topics. Additionally, this previous version established itself as a wonderful quick reference guide at the bedside, especially when using TEE as a diagnostic tool or guide to therapy while caring for high-risk patients. This new edition is a considerable enhancement to the previous version. It is designed as an on-the-spot reference for echocardiographers whose experience ranges from novice to expert. As TEE continues to evolve, in addition to imaging, future editions will need to incorporate more three-dimensional echocardiography images as well as a short section on port-access cardiac surgery (the topic of transcatheter valves has already been addressed). Overall, this text is a welcome and practical addition to the TEE literature. The handy size of this spiral-bound tome makes it an ideal pocket-sized quick reference source to carry around during clinical duties.