The Yearbook compiles the most recent, widespread developments of experimental and clinical research and practice in one comprehensive reference book. The chapters are written by well recognized experts in their field of intensive care and emergency medicine. It is addressed to everyone involved in internal medicine, anesthesia, surgery, pediattrics, intensive care and emergency medicine. (With approximately 90 contributions.)

Predisposition to Critical Illness

Prevention of Critical Illness: Determinants of Risk
Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Genomic Polymorphism and Critical Illness
Immunologic Responses
Bacterial Modulation of the Immune Response to Infection and its Consequences
Treating Immunologic Instability: A Change in Focus
Interleukin-6 in Bacterial Infection and Sepsis: Innocent Bystander or Essential Mediator?
Complement Activation by C-Reactive Protein: An Inflammatory Mechanism in Human Disease?
Influence of Nutrition on Mucosal Immunity
Metabolic Support
Studies of Protein and Amino Acid Metabolism in the Human Liver
Anabolic Strategy in ICU Patients: Is there a Place for Growth Hormone?
Controversies in Nutrition of the Critically Ill
The Hemodynamic Response to Enteral Nutrition
Infectious Challenges
Clinical Significance of Antimicrobial Resistance
Colonization and Infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Intensive Care: Endogenous or Exogenous Origin?
Severe Pneumonia in the Elderly
The Role of Pulmonary Bacterial Infections in Severe Exacerbations of COPD Patients
Treatment of Septic Shock
Volume Kinetics: A New Method to Optimize Fluid Therapy
Why, When, and How I Use Norepinephrine in the Treatment of Septic Shock
Stress Doses of Hydrocortisone in Septic Shock: Beyond the Hemodynamic Effects
Altered Respiratory Function
Breathing Pattern of Patients with COPD
Lung Mechanics in ARDS
Mechanical Ventilation
The Laryngeal Mask in Emergency Medicine and Intensive Care Medicine
Improving Patient/Ventilator Interactions
Beneficial Effects of Helium-Oxygen Mixtures in Acute Respiratory Failure
Mechanisms of Regional Lung Expansion in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Lung Protection during Mechanical Ventilation
Neuromuscular Failure
Diagnosing Respiratory Muscle Weakness
Interaction of Respiratory Muscles and Circulation in Heart Failure
Assessment of Respiratory and Limb Muscle Function in the Intensive Care Unit
Risk Factors for Polyneuromyopathy of Critical Illness
Neurologic Problems
Emergency Treatment and Intensive Care in Ischemic Stroke
Intensive Care Management of Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Neurotrauma
Cell Oxygenation
Coping with Hypoxia
Intracellular Signaling by Reactive Oxygen Species during Hypoxia
Heme Oxygenase and Acute Lung Injury: The Functional Significance of Heme Oxygenase Induction
Protective Role of Inhaled Nitric Oxide in Ischemia/Reperfusion and Endotoxin-Induced Inflammation
Oxygen Delivery
Oxygen Therapy in Intensive Care Patients: A Vital Poison?
The Significance of the P50
The Red Blood Cell and Nitric Oxide
Cardiovascular Monitoring
Continuous Arterial Thermodilution Cardiac Output and Derived Variables
Transesophageal Eunncardiographic Evaluation of Left Ventricular function
The Esophageal Doppier
Cardiovascular Alterations
Myocardial Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase and Left Ventricular Performance in the Human Heart
Alteration of the Beta-Adrenergic Pathway in the Septic Heart
Autonomic Dysfunction in Critically Ill Patients
Gut Ischemia
The Role of the Gut in Multiple Organ Failure
Gastric Intramucosal Acidosis, pHi and the Tonometer: What is the Benefit for Patients?
Coagulation Abnormalities
Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome/Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura in the ICU
Point-Of-Care Monitoring of Coagulation in the Critically Ill
Peri-Operative Complications
Peri-Operative Risk Factors for Post-Operative Pulmonary Complications
Rationale Behind "Off Pump" Coronary Surgery: Why Patients Tolerate it Better?
Renal Support
The History of Continuous Renal Replacement Techniques
Continuous Renal Replacement Therapies in Sepsis: Do they Matter?
Drug Addiction
Drugs of Abuse in the Intensive Care Unit Setting
Ecstasy (MDMA): An Update
Rapid Opiate Detoxification Under General Anesthesia: A New Challenge for Anesthesiologists and Intensivists
Economics and Ethics
Survival is not Enough: Quality of Life After Intensive Care
Economic Perspectives on Intensive Care Medicine
Health Economics in Intensive Care
Ethical Implications of Standardizing Clinical Decisions with Computerized Protocols
Medical Futility in the New Millennium: Our View.