Intensive care medicine, or critical care medicine, is a branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosisand management of life-threatening conditions that may require sophisticated life support andmonitoring. The focus of this book endorsed by World Federation of Societies on Intensive and CriticalCare Medicine is the "e;state of the art"e; of Intensive and Critical Care Medicine as well as new insights intobasic science, clinical research and therapeutic interventions. Comprehensive though easy-to-consult,updated and written by world-renowned expert, the book will be a very useful tool in the daily practiceof all health professionals working in the intensive and critical care environment.