Electrolyte Disorders
INTRODUCTION Print Section Listen Critically ill patients have disturbances in multiple organ systems and hence are at risk for serious imbalances in electrolyte and water handling. Electrolyte disorders are extremely…
CRITICAL CARE
Acid–Base Disorders
INTRODUCTION Print Section Listen The human body needs to regulate free hydrogen ions (H+) within a narrow window in order to maintain proper protein structure and function. In the process…
Hemodynamic Monitoring
INTRODUCTION Print Section Listen Patients are usually transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) due to their hemodynamic instability. Interpretation of hemodynamic monitoring is crucial to delivery of prompt and…
Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure
INTRODUCTION Print Section Listen Hypoxia occurs when tissues do not receive adequate oxygen to meet their metabolic demands. It is nonspecific and can mean reduced arterial partial pressure of oxygen…
Thromboembolic Disease
INTRODUCTION Print Section Listen Thromboembolic disease is derived from Virchow’s triad of alterations in blood flow, vascular endothelial injury, and alterations in constituents of the blood. Risk factors include antithrombin…
Hypercarbic Respiratory Failure
INTRODUCTION Print Section Listen The main function of the lung is gas exchange: the elimination of carbon dioxide (CO2) and the delivery of oxygen (O2) to the tissues. When either…
Congestive Heart Failure
INTRODUCTION Print Section Listen Heart failure (HF) is the inability of the heart to pump an adequate supply of blood to meet the demands of the body. It is an…
Nonpharmaceutical Toxidromes
Nonpharmaceutical Toxidromes This chapter describes toxic syndromes that are not the result of medications, and includes poisonings caused by carbon monoxide, cyanide, the toxic alcohols (methanol and ethylene glycol), and…
Pharmaceutical Drug Overdoses
Pharmaceutical Drug Overdoses This chapter describes the manifestations and management of overdoses with the following pharmaceutical agents: acetaminophen, benzodiazepines, β-receptor antagonists, opioids, and salicylates. Each is presented in alphabetical order….
