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The two previous editions of Applied Physiology in Intensive Care Medicine proved extremely successful, and the book has now been revised and split into two volumes to enhance ease of use. In this second volume some of the most renowned experts in the field offer detailed reviews on measurement techniques and physiological processes of crucial importance in intensive care medicine. Throughout, a key aim is to help overcome the fundamental unevenness in clinicians'understanding of applied physiology, which can lead to suboptimal treatment decisions. Applied Physiology in Intensive Care has been written by some of the most renowned experts in the field and provides an up-to-date compendium of practical bedside knowledge essential to the effective delivery of acute care medicine. It will serve the clinician as an invaluable reference source on key issues regularly confronted in everyday practice.

The two previous editions of Applied Physiology in Intensive Care Medicine proved extremely successful, and the book has now been revised and split into two volumes to enhance ease of use. This first volume comprises three elements --'physiological notes,'“technical notes,” and seminal studies. The physiological notes concisely and clearly capture the essence of the physiological perspectives underpinning our understanding of disease and response to therapy. The technical notes then succinctly explain some of the basics of “how to” in this technology-centered field of critical care medicine. Finally, a number of seminal studies are provided on diverse topics in intensive care. Applied Physiology in Intensive Care, written by some of the most renowned experts in the field, is an up-to-date compendium of practical bedside knowledge that will serve the clinician as an invaluable reference source on key issues regularly confronted in everyday practice.

Mechanical ventilation and weaning is one of the most common procedures carried out in critically ill patients. Appropriate management of these patients is of paramount importance to improve the outcome in terms of both morbidity and mortality. This book offers the physiological and clinical basis required to improve the care delivered to patients undergoing mechanical ventilation.

In theory, treatment decisions and assessments of response to therapy in critically ill patients should usually be based on measures of physiological function. Nevertheless, the most appropriate use of the information embodied in such measures is often unclear, and rarely supported by prospective clinical trials. In reality, the bedside clinician is therefore forced to rely primarily on physiological principles when deciding upon the best treatment. Unfortunately, however, the necessary knowledge base of the clinician is often less than optimal for the purpose, and habit or prior training may be more influential than science. Against this background, this second, revised edition of Applied Physiology in Intensive Care Medicine aims to help overcome the fundamental unevenness in clinicians'understanding of applied physiology. It is divided into three sections. The first comprises a series of'physiological notes'that concisely and clearly capture the essence of the physiological perspectives underpinning our understanding of disease and response to therapy. The second section contains more detailed associated reviews on measurement techniques and physiological processes, while the third provides a number of seminal studies on diverse topics in intensive care. This up-to-date compendium of practical bedside knowledge essential to the effective delivery of acute care medicine has been written by some of the most renowned experts in the field. It will serve the clinician as an invaluable reference source on key issues regularly confronted in everyday practice.

Te practice of intensive care medicine is at the very forefront of titration of treatment andmonitoringresponse. Te substrateofthiscareisthe criticallyill patientwho,by defnition, is at the limits of his or her physiologic reserve. Such patients need immediate, aggressive but balanced life-altering interventions to minimize the detrimental aspects of acute illness and hasten recovery. Treatmentdecisionsandresponsetotherapyareusually assessed by measures of physiologic function, such as assessed by cardio-respiratory monitoring. However, how one uses such information is ofen unclear and rarely supported by prospective clinical trials. In reality, the bedside clinician is forced to rely primarily on physiologic principles in determining the best treatments and response to therapy. However, the physiologic foundation present in practicing physicians is uneven and occasionally supported more by habit or prior training than science. A series of short papers published in Intensive Care Medicine since 2002 under the heading Physiologic Notes attempts to capture the essence of the physiologic perspectives that underpin both our understanding of disease and response to therapy. Tis present volume combines the complete list of these Physiologic Notes up until July 2006 with the ass o cia t ed r e vie w a r tic les o v er t h e s a m e in t er val t ha t a ls o addr ess e d t hes e cen tral issues.

Mechanical ventilation is a life-saving procedure that has been used for decades to treat patients with respiratory failure. In recent years there have been major advances in our understanding of how to ventilate patients, when to initiate and discontinue ventilation, and importantly, the side effects of mechanical ventilation. This book represents a state-of-the-art review by the leading experts in this field and covers a number of important topics including epidemiology, underlying physiological concepts, and approaches to monitoring. The pros and cons of various modes of ventilation are reviewed, as are novel forms of ventilation that may play a role in the future management of patients with respiratory failure. The importance of patient-ventilator synchrony and ventilator-induced lung injury are reviewed, with a focus on recent clinical trials and the challenges of implementing the results into clinical practice.