To integrate current knowledge in terms of basic and clinical science and to highlight problems, thirty world-renowned experts in the field of acute lung injury describe the state of up to date knowledge regarding the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and clinical management of acute lung injury. Novel techniques for the clinical support of these difficult patients are discussed in full. Prospects for successful pharmacological intervention are also outlined. This book is aimed at those practising within the field of critical care and is likely to become an indispensable aid to all concerned with the investigation and management of patients with severe respiratory failure.

Inhalt
Epidemiology of Acute Lung Injury.- Epidemiology of ARDS. Incidence and Outcome: A Changing Picture.- Prognostic Factors and Outcome of ALI.- Basic Mechanisms of Injury and Response.- Cytokines and Lung Injury.- Complement and Endotoxin in Lung Injury.- Protective Effects of the Stress Response in Sepsis and ALI.- Alveolar Surfactant and ARDS.- BAL Inflammatory Markers of Initiation and Resolution of ALI.- Lung Repair.- The Pulmonary and Systemic Circulation in ARDS.- The Pulmonary Circulation in ALI.- Right Ventricular Function in ALI and ARDS.- Systemic Circulatory Function and Peripheral Oxygen Delivery in ALI and ARDS.- The Alveolar Epithelial Barrier.- Quantifying Lung Injury in ARDS.- ALI and the Alveolar Epithelial Barrier.- Mechanical Ventilation.- Pressure-Volume Relationship in the Injured Lung.- Lung Recruitment during ARDS.- Permissive Hypercapnia.- Low versus High Tidal Volumes.- Respiratory Muscle Fatigue and Weaning.- Liquid Ventilation.- Perfluorocarbon Liquid Ventilation in Pediatric ALI.- Experience in Liquid Ventilation.- Extra-Pulmonary Adjuncts to Ventilatory Support.- Extracorporeal Respiratory Support.- Permissive Hypercapnia or the Prone Position in ARDS?.- The Effects of Prone Position on Respiratory Function.- Pharmacological Manipulation of V/Q in ALI and ARDS.- Inhaled Nitric Oxide: Clinical Experience.- Pharmacological Modifications of the Pulmonary Circulation in ALI.- Inhaled Nitric Oxide: Toxicity and Monitoring Issues.- Clinical Trials in ARDS.- Co-intervention Control: A Critical Need in ICU Clinical Research.- Designing the Perfect Clinical Trial in ALI and ARDS.- Future Clinical Trials of Mechanical Ventilation in ARDS and ALI.- Future Clinical Trials of Pharmacologic Interventions.