Practical Approach to Pediatric Intensive Care

This comprehensive textbook covers all aspects in the management for the critically ill infant or child. Adopting a practical approach throughout, the book takes the reader through the intensive care management of common pediatric emergencies, including cardiorespiratory arrest, shock, coma, respiratory distress, cardiac failure, renal, hepatic and multi-organ failure, poisoning, multiple trauma, heat and electrical injuries and life-threatening infections. Frequently performed emergency procedures such as endotracheal intubation, intraosseous line placement, arterial and central venous line placement, chest tube insertion, bronchoscopy, thoracoscopy and pericardial drainage are discussed in detail. The book also considers all aspects of assisted ventilation, central to critical care, including the care of the ventilated patient, non-invasive ventilation, nitric oxide and surfactant therapies and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Guidelines for running existing, and setting up, new pediatric intensive care facilities, admission and discharge criteria, quality issues, infection control, sedation, transport of critically ill children, end of life care, training and basic research complete this coverage. The text is supported throughout with explanatory line diagrams and photographs.