Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia The clinical approach to pneumonia can be characterized by one word: problematic. Fundamental problems include a limited ability to detect parenchymal lung infections, and the lack of a…
Cardiac Arrest This chapter presents the essential elements of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and post-CPR care, including criteria for predicting a poor neurologic outcome after cardiac arrest. The material in this…
Acute Coronary Syndromes This chapter describes the management of patients with acute, occlusive coronary artery thrombosis (acute coronary syndromes, or ACS). The importance of this disorder is shown by the…
Tachyarrhythmias A rapid heart rate or tachycardia in a critically ill patient is usually evidence of a problem, but the tachycardia may not be the problem (e.g., sinus tachycardia). This…
Platelets and Plasma This chapter begins with a description of thrombocytopenia and platelet therapy in critically ill patients, and then focuses on the transfusion of plasma products, including recommendations for…
Anemia and Erythrocyte Transfusions Anemia is almost universal in patients who spend a few days in the ICU (1), and about 50% of ICU patients receive erythrocyte transfusions to alleviate…
Colloid and Crystalloid Resuscitation This chapter presents the variety of crystalloid and colloid fluids available for use, and describes the salient features of these fluids, both individually and as a…
Systemic Infection and Inflammation The most significant discovery in critical care in the past 20–30 years is the prominent role played by inflammation in the pathogenesis of multiorgan dysfunction in…
Acute Heart Failure(s) Heart failure is not a single entity, and is classified according to the portion of the cardiac cycle that is affected (systolic or diastolic heart failure) and…
Hemorrhage and Hypovolemia The circulatory system operates with a relatively small volume and a volume-responsive pump. This is an energy-efficient design, but it quickly falters when volume is lost. While…
