Description

The aim of this book of Intensive Care Medicine is to provide the readers with a unique review of the main syndromes in Intensive Care Medicine by means of a collection of clinical cases. Intensive care medicine, also called critical care medicine, is a medical specialty that deals with seriously or critically ill patients who have, are at risk of, or are recovering from conditions that may be life-threatening. It includes providing life support, invasive monitoring techniques, resuscitation, and end-of-life care. Doctors in this specialty are often called intensive care physicians, critical care physicians, or intensivists. Intensive care relies on multidisciplinary teams composed of many different health professionals. Such teams often include doctors, nurses, physical therapists, respiratory therapists, and pharmacists, among others. They usually work together in intensive care units (ICUs) within a hospital. The target audience of this work includes university students, fellows of intensive care medicine, critical care and emergency medicine residents, and experienced physicians aiming to review the most relevant syndromes of the specialty.