Critical Care Medicine: The Essentials

Rating:
Summary: Excellent approach to ICU pathophysiology, treatments
Review: An excellent discussion of ICU/Critical Care Medicine pathophysiology and management approaches for principally the housestaff/junior fellow level. Chapters are pertinent and understandable. Does a good job of avoiding the tendency toward "cookbook" medicine found in several other CCM texts written at this level. End of chapter summaries are excellent. Focus is on developing understanding of key physiologic/pathophysiologic concepts and how they relate to monitoring, management, etc. rather than focusing on procedures and techniques. Should be the text of choice for medicine critical care rotations early in training as it really develops the appropriate foundation.