Oxford Handbook of Critical Care (Oxford Handbooks) - 2nd Edition

Of all the medical specialties, few if any are as exacting and complex as critical care medicine. All members of the multidisciplinary team caring for critically ill patients require a sound knowledge of physiology, pathophysiology, biochemistry, technology and pharmacology. The new edition of this enormously popular Oxford Handbook describes best practice in critical care in a succinct, concise, clinically oriented way. It covers therapeutic and monitoring devices, drugs and fluids, specific organ system disorders and complications, and general management philosophies. Ample space is provided to append to amend sections to suit local protocols and particular practices. The Ixford Handbook of Critical Care will serve consultant, junior doctor, nurse or other paramedical staff as a reference book, aide memoire and handy pocket book providing rationales and solutions to most of the problems encountered. David J. Dries This is the first edition of a softcover handbook of critical care. The authors attempt to summarize current optimal practice of critical care from the standpoint of therapy, monitoring, and treatment of organ system dysfunction. Although much of the text covers topics relative to critical care management, detail that could appropriately be included in a handbook of this type is absent. The medical student and junior house officer is the optimal audience for this work. Its size allows transport in a lab coat or jacket pocket. The authors are two intensivists from the United Kingdom. This attractive softcover handbook is divided into approximately 40 chapters according to therapy, monitoring needs, drug management, and common problems of various organ systems. In addition, general chapters on trauma, burns, poisoning, and other metabolic, hematologic, and neurologic disorders and inflammation are also included. Content of each chapter is summarized with pages containing paragraphs or lists of key management principles. References are not given. Figures are black and white and spaced infrequently throughout the text. An index with substantial detail is provided. The authors provide a handbook of significant scope, but frequently omit the technical details and lists of key variables that increase the value of a fingertip guide to critical care. In addition, structure and direction could be given to these brief presentations based on the experience of the authors. For example, a stepwise approach to common problems such as injury, cardiac dysfunction, or renal failure could be included. In short, the space allowed in this handbook for user notes could be better filled withfacts and algorithms to guide the inexperienced practitioner — the most likely audience for this work. "The new edition of this Oxford Handbook provides a perfect reference source for consultants, junior doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff. The book describes best practice in a succinct, concise, and clinically orientated way. It covers therapeutic and monitoring devices, drugs and fluids, specific organ system disorders and complications, and general management philosophies." "This thoroughly revised second edition includes new material on areas such as adjusting the ventilator; managing ARD5; haemodynamic monitoring; stroke; the control, diagnosis and treatment of infection; sepsis and septic shock, and withdrawal and withholding treatment. Patient-centred and practical, with up-to-date key references, this book will continue to be the first port of call for anyone caring for critically ill patients."--BOOK JACKET A guide for junior staff and a reference for senior staff. This book includes details of equipment, techniques and procedures for monitoring; and for therapeutic purposes, laboratory monitoring, pharmacology, basic principles of patient management, and the clinical management of specific conditions, presented in the intensive care unit. Serves as a practical guide for those working in intensive and emergency care. This title covers therapeutic and monitoring devices, drugs and fluids, specific organ system disorders and complications, and general management philosophies and material on areas such as adjusting the ventilator; managing ARDS; and, sepsis and septic shock.