The thoroughly updated Fifth Edition of this classic critical care reference remains an unsurpassed source of definitive, practical guidance on adult patient care in the ICU. The book provides encyclopedic, multidisciplinary coverage of both medical and surgical intensive care and includes a "how-to" atlas of procedures and techniques...an appendix of calculations used in critical care...and timely new chapters on medical aspects of biological and chemical agents of mass destruction and non-invasive mechanical ventilation. This edition has been extensively revised to reflect contemporary principles and protocols and streamlined from two volumes to a user-friendly and affordable single volume.

New section editors have revamped the sections on cardiovascular problems, coronary care, surgical problems, shock and trauma, metabolism and nutrition, hematology, pharmacology/toxicology, and ethical issues. Other Fifth Edition highlights include expanded coverage of gastroesophageal balloon tamponade, aspiration of joints, mechanical ventilation, hepatic dysfunction, applied pharmacokinetics, drug therapy individualization and monitoring, cholinergic agents, postoperative care of the cardiac surgical patient, arterial disease of the extremities, obstetric problems in the ICU, bone marrow transplantation, and health care reform and cost containment.