Preface

vii

SECTION 1

GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF CRITICAL CARE

1

1.1

Introduction

2

1.2

Emergencies and Life-Threatening Complications

36

SECTION 2

PATIENT ASSESSMENT AND INVESTIGATIONS

85

2.1

Identification of Patient Needs/Problems

86

2.2

Assessment

90

2.3

Haemodynamic Monitoring

117

2.4

Diagnostic Procedures

145

SECTION 3

CRITICAL CARE INTERVENTIONS

133

3.1

Medium-Technology Life-Support Interventions

184

3.2

High-Technology Life-Support Interventions

208

3.3

Caring for a Critical Care Patient

219

3.4

Intubation and Ventilation

232

3.5

Transfer of Critical Care Patients

261

SECTION 4

COMMON CONDITIONS/REASONS FOR ADMISSION

267

4.1

Principles of Cellular Death, Injury and Repair

268

4.2

Neurological

284

4.3

Endocrine Disorders

301

4.4

Respiratory

304

4.5

Cardiovascular

311

4.6

Renal

329

4.7

Gastrointestinal (GIT)

333

4.8

Immunological

338

4.9

Surgery

343

4.10

Burns

343

4.11

Poisoning/Overdose

346

SECTION 5

PSYCHOLOGICAL AND ETHICAL CARE

349

5.1

Mental Effects of Critical Care

350

5.2

Palliative Care in Critical Care

360

5.3

Professional Practice Issues

380

SECTION 6

PHARMACOLOGY

391

6.1

Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics

392

6.2

Classification of Drugs Used in Critical Care

397

6.3

Drug Calculations

419

6.4

Nurse Prescribing

420

Conclusion

423

References

425

Relevant Websites

430

Further Reacting

431

Appendix 1

Units of Measurement

433

Appendix 2

Normal Values

439

Appendix 3

Drug Measurement and Calculations

443

Glossary

447

Index

451