Transesophageal Echocardiography: A New Window to the Heart

Book Reviews Transesophageal Echocardiography: A N e w W i n d o w t o t h e H e a r t , edited by Raim u n d Erbel, Bijoy K. Khandheria, Riidiger Brennecke, Jiirgen Meyer, J a m e s B. Seward, and A. Jamil Tajik, 3 6 0 pp, with illus, $112.50, N e w York, Springer-Verlag, 1989 This is the first published text on the subject of transesophageal echocardiography. The pref­ ace indicates t h a t the book is a compilation of manuscripts based on presentations at confer­ ences and symposia. The various contributors have provided a comprehensive work that ad­ dresses the advantages, disadvantages, and future directives in the field. Many symposia lack practicality for the novice, in that t h e y tend to be specific and s o m e w h a t esoteric e s s a y s on isolated points within a field; the editors of this book deserve praise for adeptly avoiding this pitfall. It is premature to expect a definitive and comprehensive text on transesophageal echocar­ diography at this time; the majority of the mate­ rial would be outdated before publication. Such a text will become available only after further original and confirmatory work on the u s e of transesophageal echocardiography has been completed. The general lack of experience in the field is partially offset in this text by the inclu­ sion of contributions from more t h a n 160 au­ thors; the presentation of multiple opinions on parallel subjects allows the reader to develop a representative appreciation for the field. Of special practical u s e is the e s s a y on anatom­ ic correlations. The depiction of corresponding anatomic sections orients the reader to the v i e w s u s e d in transesophageal echocardiography. The only flaw in this contribution is that it demon­ strates horizontal planes of view obtained from single-plane probes exclusively. The vertical planes of view that can be obtained with biplane probes are not represented, although currently this capability is available through only one manufacturer. Mayo Clin Proc 65:1037-1047, 1990

From the practical point of view, the book enables the reader to appreciate the potential u s e s of transesophageal echocardiography. It is not an instructional text on this modality and is by no m e a n s a definitive reference for the field. Its strength is that it provides a concise review of transesophageal echocardiography that will serve as a springboard for more in-depth study. We recommend it to all physicians and technolo­ gists who are interested in recent advances in echocardiography. Kevin Ryan, M.D. N a v i n C. N a n d a , M.D. Echocardiography & Graphics Laboratories University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, Alabama

E n d o c r i n e H y p e r t e n s i o n (Comprehensive Endocrinology series), edited by Edward G. Biglieri and J a m e s C. Melby, 2 8 0 pp, with illus, $99, N e w York, Raven Press, 1990 This text provides a thorough, lucid explanation of the various types of hypertension that result from or are associated with abnormalities in hormonal function. The chapters on primary aldosteronism, Cushing's syndrome, and pheochromocytoma review in depth the experimental background on which the understanding of the pathophysio­ logic features of t h e s e disorders w a s founded. The presentations of relevant clinical findings and a logical approach to the identification, assessment, and treatment of patients with these disorders provide primary-care physicians with a readily accessible reference source. The discussions of the more esoteric problems of mineralocorticoid hypertension, such as dexam e t h a s o n e - s u p p r e s s i b l e hyperaldosteronism, 17a-hydroxylase deficiency, and the hyperten­ sion of apparent mineralocorticoid excess, make

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