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Non-invasive imaging of congenital heart disease
Book reviews/ ht.
J. Cardiol. 47 (1994)
which can help a beginner become an expert in a substantially shorter time. A. C. DeSouza,
T.J. Spyt
Department of Surgery University of Leicester Leicester, UK
Non-Invasive Imaging of Congenital Heart Disease
A.J. Chin Futura Publishing Co. Inc., New York, 1994; 392 pp.; US$l28.00; ISBN O-87993-574-X This is yet another book on non-invasive imaging of congenital heart disease but with the addition of imaging of the post-surgical patients. This must be a labour of love based on the wide personal experience of Dr. Chin and his team. The basis of diagnosis and segmental analysis of congenital heart disease are somewhere within the text albeit in the ‘van Praagh’ nomenclature. Thus one can argue that for a book such as this to reach a wider audience on both sides of the Atlantic, perhaps the author should include the European nomenclature. To echo the author’s own view point on page 55, it is not my purpose to review the
199-2OI
201
two nomenclatures in use with reference to this book. Personally, 1 find the author’s description of the atrio-ventricular connections and ventriculoarterial connections confusing and may not clarify the situation for the trainee. I still could not understand how most types of truncus arteriosus have normal or near normal ventriculo-arterial alignment (page 173) when there is only a solitary set of arterial valve!. The main purpose of this book as the author suggests is to outline with examples how cardiac ultrasound can be used to diagnose even the most complex congenital heart defects. This is where in my main criticism lies. The essence of a book of this nature is crisp and clear illustrations to complement the text. I am afraid a significant number of the illustrations are fuzzy and not at all clear. The reproductions of the colour Doppler still frames are the greatest culprit. Unfortunately, it is always diflicult to illustrate what a moving picture would show by just a still frame. Thus, with the poor illustrations, I am afraid the book may not achieve its intended purpose for the training physicians and technicians. Dr K.C. Chan
Consultant Paediatric Cardiologist The Glenfield Hospital Leicester, UK
J. Cardiol. 47 (1994)
which can help a beginner become an expert in a substantially shorter time. A. C. DeSouza,
T.J. Spyt
Department of Surgery University of Leicester Leicester, UK
Non-Invasive Imaging of Congenital Heart Disease
A.J. Chin Futura Publishing Co. Inc., New York, 1994; 392 pp.; US$l28.00; ISBN O-87993-574-X This is yet another book on non-invasive imaging of congenital heart disease but with the addition of imaging of the post-surgical patients. This must be a labour of love based on the wide personal experience of Dr. Chin and his team. The basis of diagnosis and segmental analysis of congenital heart disease are somewhere within the text albeit in the ‘van Praagh’ nomenclature. Thus one can argue that for a book such as this to reach a wider audience on both sides of the Atlantic, perhaps the author should include the European nomenclature. To echo the author’s own view point on page 55, it is not my purpose to review the
199-2OI
201
two nomenclatures in use with reference to this book. Personally, 1 find the author’s description of the atrio-ventricular connections and ventriculoarterial connections confusing and may not clarify the situation for the trainee. I still could not understand how most types of truncus arteriosus have normal or near normal ventriculo-arterial alignment (page 173) when there is only a solitary set of arterial valve!. The main purpose of this book as the author suggests is to outline with examples how cardiac ultrasound can be used to diagnose even the most complex congenital heart defects. This is where in my main criticism lies. The essence of a book of this nature is crisp and clear illustrations to complement the text. I am afraid a significant number of the illustrations are fuzzy and not at all clear. The reproductions of the colour Doppler still frames are the greatest culprit. Unfortunately, it is always diflicult to illustrate what a moving picture would show by just a still frame. Thus, with the poor illustrations, I am afraid the book may not achieve its intended purpose for the training physicians and technicians. Dr K.C. Chan
Consultant Paediatric Cardiologist The Glenfield Hospital Leicester, UK