Nosocomial infection
Chapter 62 Nosocomial infection Neil Soni Nosocomial or hospital-acquired infections are a major problem in hospitals, affecting up to 9% of inpatients at any one time. Intensive care units (ICUs)…
Humidification and inhalation therapy
Chapter 28 Humidification and inhalation therapy Andrew D. Bersten The upper airway normally warms, moistens and filters inspired gas. When these functions are impaired by disease, or when the nasopharynx…
Biochemical terrorism
Chapter 78 Biochemical terrorism Munita Grover, Michael E. Pelly Biochemical terrorism is defined as the use of biological or chemical agents to intimidate, incapacitate or eradicate crops, livestock, civilian and…
Acute gastrointestinal bleeding
Chapter 36 Acute gastrointestinal bleeding Joseph J Y. Sung Acute gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is a common admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and a major cause of morbidity and…
Near drowning
Chapter 72 Near drowning Cyrus Edibam DEFINITIONS The American Heart Association Guidelines for Resuscitation1 suggest that the term ‘submersion victim’ be used to describe a person who experiences some swimming-related…
Abdominal and pelvic injuries
Chapter 71 Abdominal and pelvic injuries Colin McArthur Although important abdominal injuries are present in only 16–27% of hospital trauma admissions,1 abdominal and pelvic injuries can represent up to 60%…
Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome
Chapter 13 Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome Patricia Figgis, David Bihari The incidence of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) is increasing and accounts for up to one-half of deaths in intensive…
Acute respiratory failure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Chapter 26 Acute respiratory failure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Matthew T. Naughton, David V. Tuxen The terms ‘chronic obstructive pulmonary or airways disease’ (COPD or COAD) are applied to…
Common problems after ICU
Chapter 8 Common problems after ICU Carl S. Waldmann Until recently, an intensive care unit (ICU) stay was deemed successful if a patient survived to go to the ward. No…
Clinical trials in critical care
Chapter 10 Clinical trials in critical care Simon Finfer, Anthony Delaney Evidence based medicine is the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the…
