Acute renal failure
Chapter 40 Acute renal failure Rinaldo Bellomo Acute renal failure (ARF) remains a major diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for the critical care physician. The term ‘ ARF’ describes a syndrome…
Neuromuscular disorders in intensive care
Chapter 49 Neuromuscular disorders in intensive care George A. Skowronski A number of disorders producing generalised neuromuscular weakness can require admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), or complicate the…
Brain death
Chapter 46 Brain death Marcus Peck, Martin Smith Most people die a ‘conventional’ death when their heart stops beating. In others the advent of intensive organ support has complicated the…
The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
Chapter 29 The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) Andrew D. Bersten The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) was first described in 1967 by Ashbaugh and colleagues as the ‘acute onset…
Status epilepticus
Chapter 43 Status epilepticus Helen Ingrid Opdam Status epilepticus (SE) is a medical emergency requiring prompt intervention to prevent the development of irreversible brain damage. The duration of seizure activity…
Abdominal surgical catastrophes
Chapter 39 Abdominal surgical catastrophes Stephen J. Streat Intra-abdominal surgical catastrophes are common conditions in intensive care units (ICUs)1 and typically occur in elderly patients with comorbidity and reduced physiological…
Intensive care after cardiac surgery
Chapter 22 Intensive care after cardiac surgery Raymond F. Raper Coronary artery bypass surgery is one of the most frequently undertaken surgical procedures. Because of the prevalence of cardiac disease,…
Severe acute pancreatitis
Chapter 37 Severe acute pancreatitis Duncan LA. Wyncoll Acute inflammation of the pancreas produces a spectrum of symptoms, which may be mild and self-limiting, or reflect severe disease that leads…
Adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Chapter 17 Adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation Peter T. Morley The incidence and outcomes of cardiac arrests appeared not to have changed dramatically over a number of decades. However, a number of…
