Neurologic emergencies are a common reason for admission to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). A thorough understanding of the diseases and disorders affecting the pediatric central nervous system is vital for any physician or healthcare provider working in the PICU. In the following pages, an international panel of experts provides an in-depth discussion on the res- citation, stabilization, and ongoing care of the critically ill or injured child with central nervous system dysfunction. Once again, we would like to dedicate this textbook to our families and to the physicians and nurses who provide steadfast care every day in pediatric intensive care units across the globe. Derek S. Wheeler Hector R. Wong Thomas P. Shanley v Preface to Pediatric Critical Care Medicine: Basic Science and Clinical Evidence The ? eld of critical care medicine is growing at a tremendous pace, and tremendous advances in the understanding of critical illness have been realized in the last decade. My family has directly bene? ted from some of the technological and scienti? c advances made in the care of critically ill children. My son Ryan was born during my third year of medical school. By some peculiar happenstance, I was nearing completion of a 4-week rotation in the newborn intensive care unit (NICU).
The field of critical care medicine is in the midst of a dramatic change. Technological and scientific advances during the last decade have resulted in a fundamental change in the way we view disease processes, such as sepsis, shock, acute lung injury, and traumatic brain injury. Pediatric intensivists have been both witness to and active participants in bringing about these changes and it is imperative that all physicians caring for critically ill children in this new era have a thorough understanding of the applicability of these modern developments to the care of patients at the bedside and to keep up with the rapidly evolving field of critical care medicine.
Neurologic emergencies are a common reason for admission to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). A thorough understanding of the diseases and disorders affecting the pediatric central nervous system is vital for any physician or health care provider working in the PICU. The Central Nervous System in Pediatric Critical Illness and Injury has been written by an international panel of experts to provide readers with an in-depth discussion on the resuscitation, stabilization, and ongoing care of the critically ill or injured child with central nervous system dysfunction. This book is therefore absolutely crucial for anyone working in the PICU, from physicians, residents and fellows in critical care, neurology, and pediatrics to specialist nurses and support personnel on the PICU and all medical professionals who are involved in the management of these patients.
From the reviews:
"This softcover book contains 12 chapters from an earlier comprehensive work ? by the same authors ? . Senior practitioners and fellows treating pediatric critical illness are an appropriate audience for this work ? ." (David J. Dries, Doody's Review Service, February, 2009)
"Neurological emergencies as encountered in Emergency Departments and ICU's are reviewed in 12 chapters. ? A clearly written text with many references." (Pediatric Endocrinology Reviews, Vol. 7 (2), December, 2009)
