Resuscitation and Stabilization of the Critically Ill Child

The care of the critically ill or injured child begins with timely, prompt, and aggressive res- citation and stabilization. Ideally, stabilization should occur before the onset of organ failure in order to achieve the best possible outcomes. In the following pages, an international panel of experts provides an in-depth discussion of the early recognition, resuscitation, and stabilization of the critically ill or injured child. 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 head of the pediatrics clerkship was kind enough to let me have a few days off around the time of the delivery―my wife, Cathy, was 2 weeks past her due date and had been scheduled for elective induction.

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.

The care of the critically ill or injured child begins with timely. prompt. and aggressive resuscitation and stabilization. Ideally. stabilization should occur before the onset of organ failure in order to achieve the best possible outcomes. Resuscitation and Stabilization of the Critically Ill Child has been written by an international panel of experts to provide an in-depth review of the early recognition. resuscitation. and stabilization of the critically ill or injured child. This book is therefore an ideal reference for all involved in the management of the pediatric critically ill patient. from physicians. residents and fellows in critical care. pulmonology. cardiology and pediatricians to specialist nurses and support personnel on the pediatric critical care unit and all medical professionals that are involved in the management of these patients.