Book excerpt: The second edition of this handbook is an up-to-date guide to the application of catheter-based interventions across the entire age range of congenital heart disease patients, from fetal life through to adulthood. It considers the changes and improvements that have occurred during the last few years in terms of new procedures, new tools and devices (in particular in the field of valves), new imaging and pre-procedural strategies, such as 3D-printing, 3D- rotational angiography and fusion imaging. It provides readers with clear instructions on techniques for vascular access, valve dilatation, angioplasty, stent implantation, defect closure, defect creation, pulmonary valve implantation and on the hybrid approach, as well as on various other procedures. As in the first edition, topics are approached using a step-by-step format, ensuring that readers can immediately access the information relevant to their daily practice. Numerous explanatory figures and drawings are included in each chapter in order to further clarify how to plan, perform and evaluate diagnostic and interventional procedures in the field of congenital heart disease. It also highlights important tips and tricks that will assist health operators in achieving optimal outcomes, and includes an appendix with additional general equations and BSA, and oxygen consumption charts. This practical guide will be a valuable resource for surgeons and cardiologists in their daily clinical practice.