Abstract
This is the second edition of a comprehensive textbook originally published in 1997. Its scope is wide and includes useful chapters on subjects such as cor pulmonale and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, which are highly relevant but outside the practice of most cardiologists. There are also excellent sections on contraception and genetic counselling, reinforcing the important message that good pregnancy care begins preconception.
The book displays both the advantages and disadvantages of a multiauthor text. The reader benefits from the experience of many experts but there is significant, often inconsistent, overlap between chapters. Further editing and cross-referencing would improve this greatly. While many chapters are excellent, giving a clear summary of the evidence and current best practice, others are out of date even allowing for the time lag of publication. In addition, several tables and diagnostic strategy diagrams contain typographical errors major enough to render them useless. Authors also vary in their approach between qualitative overview and practical management with clear parameters. In my experience, readers value as much of the latter as possible.
Heart Disease in Pregnancy appropriately emphasizes the importance of multidisciplinary care and would be of interest to cardiologists, obstetricians, obstetric physicians, anaesthetists and midwives. It gives a good overview of the subject and would be useful as reference, but for the day-to-day management of patients not all subject chapters consistently reflect current practice or give clear answers to the difficult questions we all face.