This book presents a comprehensive survey in which internationally recognized experts discuss specific topics. The wide spectrum of experimental and clinical investigations include the pathophysiologic, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects. Update 1990 represents the series' continuous effort to combine the most recent developments in one reference source for all those involved in cardiology, internal medicine, pediatrics, anesthesia, intensive care and emergency medicine.

Inhalt
Multiple Organ Failure.- Synergetic Order and Ghaotic Malfunctions of the Circulatory Systems in Multiple Organ Failure.- Multiple Organ Failure Syndrome: Patterns and Effect of Current Therapy.- Selective Gut Decontamination in Ventilated Patients.- Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS): A Systemic Disease?.- Sepsis and Septic Shock.- Foreign Body Infections: From Intravenous Catheters to Hip Prosthesis.- The Role of Amino Acid Changes in Septic Encephalopathy.- Endotoxins and Gram-negative Septicemia.- Human and Canine Septic Shock: Studies of Cardiovascular Abnormality, Mediators, and Therapies.- Myocardial Dysfunction in Sepsis.- Manipulation of the Immunoinflammatory Cascade in Sepsis: Facts and Perspectives.- Immunotherapy of Gram-negative Septic Shock.- Therapy of Septic Shock: New Strategies.- Acute Respiratory Failure.- The Influence of Mixed Venous PO2 on Arterial Oxygenation.- Determination of Lung-Ventilation and Perfusion by Isotope Technique.- Measurement of Alveolar-Capillary Permeability.- Host Defense Mechanisms in Acute Lung Injury - Smoke Inhalation in Fire Victims.- Respiratory Changes Induced by Upper Abdominal and Cardiac Surgery.- Respiratory Support.- Diaphragm Pacing.- Pressure Release Ventilation.- Tracheobronchial Suctions During Mechanical Ventilation.- High-Frequency Ventilation.- Patients' Experiences of Mechanical Ventilation.- Respiratory Mechanics.- Respiratory Mechanics in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.- Lung Mechanics in ARDS.- Work of Breathing During Mechanical Ventilation.- Measurement of the Work of Breathing During Mechanical Ventilation.- PEEP in Mechanically Ventilated COPD Patients.- Pulmonary Hypertension.- Pulmonary Hypertension in Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia.- Pulmonary Hypertension in ARDS.- ThrombolyticTherapy in Massive Pulmonary Embolism.- Cardiorespiratory Interactions.- The Role of Ventricular Interaction in Critical Illness.- Cardiac Dysfunction.- The Role of ?1 and ?2-Adrenoceptors in the Regulation of the Cardiovascular System.- Ventricular Dysfunction: Ischemic Versus Non-ischemic.- Role of Subendocardial Ischemia in the Pathogenesis of Heart Failure.- Management of Severe Heart Failure.- Cardiac Arrhythmias in Patients Treated with Antiarrhythmic Agents.- Complications After Cardiac Surgery.- Myocardial Preservation During Cardiac Surgery.- Prevention of the Postperfusion Syndrome After Cardiopulmonary Bypass.- Management of Heart Failure After Cardiac Surgery.- Diagnosing Myocardial Ischemia in the Operation Room.- Cardiorespiratory Monitoring.- Reliability of Cardiac Output Measurements by the Thermodilution Method.- Continuous Cardiac Output Monitoring During Cardiac Surgery.- Hemodynamic Monitoring Using Aortic Doppler.- Real-Time Monitoring of Gas Exchange.- Continuous Assessment of Cardiopulmonary Function.- Intoxications.- Current Topics in the Management of Poisoning.- Carbon Monoxide Intoxication.- Management of the Acute Neuropsychiatrie Manifestations of Cocaine Intoxication.- Acute Heroin Intoxication.- Mushroom Poisoning.- Poisoning by Agricultural Chemicals Organophosphates and Paraquat.- Emergency and Trauma.- The Shock Index Revisited.- Prevention of Post-traumatic Complications.- Pathophysiological Mechanisms in Severe Head Trauma.- Primary Treatment in Severe Head Injury.- The Role of Alcohol in Trauma.- Emergency Management of Acute Lower Limb Ischemia.- Emergency Medicine in France: Examples of Organization and Services Provided.- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.- Current Standards and Future Directions of Basic and AdvancedCardiopulmonary Resuscitation.- Acidosis in CPR: Pathophysiology and Treatment.- Modern Drug Therapy During Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.- Cardiac Arrest and the Brain.- Cerebral Resuscitation in Children.- Out-of-Hospital Cerebral Resuscitation.- When to Stop CPR?.- Teaching CPR for Citizen: Lessons from a Belgian Experience.- Cerebral Crisis.- Pathophysiological Mechanisms and Therapeutic Aspects in Stroke and Ischemic Brain Injury.- Treatment of Experimental Central Nervous System Trauma and Ischemia: Use of a Novel 21-Aminosteroid.- Current Management of Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.- Gastro-Intestinal Crisis.- Prevention of Stress Associated Gastric Mucosal Erosions.- Management of Severe Acute Pancreatitis.- Perioperative Management of the Liver Transplant Patient.- Sedation of the Critically.- Long-term Sedation in the Critically III.- Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Modeling of Sedation in the ICU: Future Perspectives.- The Use of Benzodiazepines in Surgical Patients.- The Use of Neuromuscular Blocking Agents in Intensive Care.- Pain and Sedation in the Pediatric Patient: The 1990 Approach to a Very Old Problem.- Liver Metabolism of Analgesic Agents.- Fluids and Electrolytes Endocrine Function.- The Kidney The Innocent Bystander.- Acute Hypophosphatemia.- Atrial Natriuretic Factor: Clinical Implications.- Endocrine Disturbances in the Critically III: The Role of Growth Hormone and Cortisol.- Evaluation of Intensive Care.- Intensive Care for HIV Infected Patients: The View from San Francisco General Hospital.- Intensive Care for HIV Infected Patients: The View from Brussels St Pierre Hospital.- Intensive Care for Complications of Malignant Disease: Presentation and Outcome.- Audit in Intensive Care.- Long-term Outcome of Premature Babies.-Long-term Outcome from Intensive Care.