Preface

So why yet another book in cardiac anesthesia? Are there not enough already?

There are certainly many voluminous texts already written on this subject. There are likewise many information filled, useful manuals and handbooks available as well.

Cardiac Anesthesia and Transesophageal Echocardiography seeks to become the single resource where trainees doing a 1 or 2 month rotation in cardiac anesthesia can readily acquire the basic information needed to successfully navigate the cardiac operating room. Moreover, now that the National Board of Echocardiography is offering a basic certification in transesophageal echocardiography we believe that trainees, the majority of whom have no desire to ever practice cardiac anesthesiology following completion of their residency, will be increasingly interested in acquiring basic perioperative echocardiography skills for use in general anesthesia practice. Although there are many fine texts on perioperative echocardiography available, they generally assume knowledge of cardiac anesthesia and cardiac surgical procedures. Cardiac Anesthesia and Transesophageal Echocardiography introduces both cardiac anesthesia and echocardiography principles concurrently just as is daily done during clinical cardiac anesthesia rotations. Consequently, we have incorporated instruction in basic echocardiography throughout the text.

Cardiac Anesthesia and Transesophageal Echocardiography utilizes a multimedia format to introduce both principles of cardiac anesthesiology as well as basic TEE. The DVD contains more than 100 narrated, labeled TEE clips that introduce the reader to both normal and abnormal echocardiographic views. Although both the DVD and the text can be studied independently from one another, the printed chapters and the electronic media have their greatest impact when viewed concurrently.

It is our hope that students, trainees, and anesthesia practitioners will use the book and DVD to provide both an introduction to and a brief review of cardiac anesthesiology. Likewise, we hope that all anesthesia trainees will incorporate both the principles of cardiac anesthesiology and those of basic perioperative echocardiography where appropriate in their practices.

John D. Wasnick
Zak Hillel
David Kramer
Sanford Littwin
Alina Nicoara