Echocardiography has been one of the most significant advances in cardiology in the past two decades. It can provide anatomic, functional hemodynamic, and blood flow information. Conventional transtho- racic echocardiography has limitations, particularly in certain patients such as those with obesity, chronic lung disease, or chest wall defor- mity, or in those where a transthoracic approach is difficult for reasons including trauma, life support apparat uses, and surgical dressings. There are also certain disease states or conditions in which transtho- racic echocardiography expectedly gives incomplete or inadequate in- formation. Transesophageal echo cardiography has opened a unique "new window to the heart." The immediate proximity of the esophagus and the posterior heart permits exceptionally high resolution images, par- ticularly of the left atrium, mitral valve, and intraatrial septum. Addi- tionally, from the stomach (trans gastric views), the ventricles can be dependably imaged. Transesophageal echo cardiography presently is utilized in two environments: intraoperatively and for outpatient examinations. Intraoperatively, TEE is utilized to monitor cardiac function and de- tect intracardiac air or debris, to diagnose or quantitate cardiac path- ology, and to access operative results.

Preoperative and intraoperative echocardiography has become an indispensable tool for guiding mitral valve surgery and has fostered the development of many innovative surgical techniques. Mitral valvuloplasty is now an established surgical method for the treatment of mitral insufficiency but the success is largely dependent on the extent of the underlying disease of the mitral valve. The book by Dr. Ng and coauthors is an extraordinary presentation of the relation between echocardiographic display of mitral valve pathology and reconstructive mitral valve surgery. The atlas provides an excellent illustrative guide to teach echocardiographic-anatomic correlations and educates the reader on the techniques of mitral valve repair. The quality of the illustrations, particularly the surgical photographs is exquisite. The book will be helpful for cardiologists and cardiac surgeons.