The annual prevalence of sepsis, the systemic inflammatory response to infection, is estimated at 19 million cases worldwide. Over the last 30 years, reported mortality rates in severe sepsis, defined…
In his seminal 1876 work defining germ theory, Dr. Robert Koch described experiments in which he established the causative role of infecting microorganisms in septic shock. Infection was accepted as…
Sepsis is part of every critical care practice. Care for septic patients is provided by internists, anesthesiologists, surgeons, pediatricians, neurologists, neurosurgeons, emergency physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, and pharmacists. The disorder…
The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a syndrome of acute lung injury (ALI) caused by direct or indirect damage to the lung parenchyma. It is characterized clinically by acute…
The inflammatory injury suffered by the alveolar epithelium–endothelium complex provides multiple potential therapeutic targets. The inflammatory process could be inhibited at any stage from the genome to inflammatory signaling to…
Inhaled vasodilators have a compelling physiologic rationale in the management of critically ill patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). A 20-year accumulation of rigorous research has helped to clarify…
Traditional approaches to the carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) management of adults with acute respiratory failure have focused on the potential for hypercapnia to exert deleterious effects. Support for this…
In this chapter, we systematically examine the evidence linking acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with pulmonary hypertension, the implications of pulmonary hypertension and consequent right ventricular failure for patient outcomes,…
Changes in posture and position invariably accompany activity in healthy adults, with likely salutary effects on physiology. Similar changes in position during illness have important effects on cardiovascular and pulmonary…
The term acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) describes acute inflammatory lung injury caused by a wide variety of insults, resulting in severe hypoxemic respiratory failure. ARDS has been recognized as…
