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 the field of intensive care and emergency medicine. It is addressed to everyone involved in internal medicine, anesthesia, surgery, pediatrics, intensive care and emergency medicine.

Multiple Organ Failure

From Celsus to Galen to Bone: The Illnesses, Syndromes, and Diseases of Acute Inflammation
Towards Understanding Pathophysiology in Critical Care: the Human Body as a Complex System
Pediatric Sepsis and Multiple Organ Failure at the Millenium: A US Perspective
Ventilator-Associated Systemic Inflammation
Affecting Clinical Outcomes in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome with Enteral Nutrition
Reducing Surgical Mortality and Complications
New Developments in Sepsis
Toll-like Receptors: Imphcation in Human Disease
Poly (ADP-ribose) synthetase as a Novel Therapeutic Target for Circulatory Shock
Inhibition of p38 Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase: A Novel Strategy in Sepsis?
Acute Adrenal Insufficiency in Critically Ill Patients: the Waterhouse-Friderichsen Syndrome Revisited
Coagulation Abnormalities
Natural Anticoagulants in Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation and Sepsis
Changes of the Hemostatic Network in the Critically Ill
Infectious Problems
Education as a Primary Tool for Prevention of Catheter-related Infections
Antibiotic Resistance in the Intensive Care Unit
Fungal Infection in Critically Ill Patients
The Heart
The ?3-Adrenoceptor and its Regulation in Cardiac Tissue
Quantifying Myocardial Ejection Asynchrony: Effective Stroke Volume Analysis
Determination of Afterload: A Promising Challenge for Echocardiography?
From the Heart to the Cell
Regional Differences in Vascular Reactivity in Sepsis and Endotoxemia
Initial Clinical Experience with OPS Imaging for Observation of the Human Microcirculation
Usefulness of Gastric Tonometry in Critically Ill Patients
Monitoring Tissue Gas Tensions in Critical Illness
Cell Function
Lactate, Lactate/Pyruvate Ratio, Low Tissue Perfusion andOutcome
Mitochondrial Antioxidant Activity and Disease Processes
Reactive Nitrogen and Oxygen Species: Role and Evidence of their Production in Humans
A Possible Role for Iron Ions in Organ Injury
Blood Transfusions
Optimizing Red Blood Cell Transfusion Practice
Augmented Acute Normovolemic Hemodilution
Polytrauma
Permissive Hypotension during Primary Resuscitation from Trauma and Shock
Hypertonic Resuscitation for Traumatic Brain Injury?
Neurologic Crisis
Severe Head Injury in Patients with Multiple Trauma
Humoral and Neurological Mechanisms of Organ System Dysfunction in Patients with Central Nervous System Disease
Cerebral Function in Coma, Vegetative State, Minimally Conscious State, Locked-in Syndrome, and Brain Death
Multimodality Evoked Potentials in the Confirmation of Brain Death
Acute Respiratory Failure
Measurement and Interpretation of Lung Mechanics in Patients with Acute Respiratory Failure
Lung Recruitment and Stabilization in ARDS
Proportional Pressure Support in Acute Lung Injury
The Role of Helium in the Treatment of Acute Respiratory Failure
Intra-tracheal Aerosol Delivery in Intubated Patients
Airway Pressure Release Ventilation: Time to Change the Concept?
Weaning from Mechanical Ventilation and Non-Invasive Ventilation
Weaning from Mechanical Ventilation (Part 1): Evidence Supports the Use of Protocols
Weaning from Mechanical Ventilation (Part 2): Strategies for Implementing Protocols
Non-Invasive Ventilation and Weaning from Mechanical Ventilation
Non-Invasive Ventilation in Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure
Non-Invasive Mechanical Ventilation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Intra-abdominal Pressure
Intra-abdominal Pressure in the Intensive Care Unit: Clinical Tool or Toy?
Measuring Intra-abdominal Pressure in Intensive Care Setting
Liver, Pancreas and Kidney
The Splanchnic Circulation in Cirrhosis and Portal Hypertension
Indocyanine Green for the Assessment of Liver Function in Critically Ill Patients
Liver Support Systems
Pancreatic Dysfunction in Critical Illness
Acute Dialysis Quality Initiative
ICU Organization
Optimal Interhospital Transport Systems for the Critically Ill
Outreach: A Hospital-wide Approach to Critical Illness
Randomized Clinical Trials in Pediatric Critical Care
Clinical Information Systems in the ICU
Creating and Maintaining Safe Systems of ICU Care
Ethical Questions for the New Millennium.