Critical-Care Books

I ordered this item at the end of September, and it was supposed to be shipped out October 1-2. When I had still not received it mid-October, I wrote the seller and she told me that it was sent out maybe "one day late", but that it was sent "expedited." When I had still not received the book around October 23-24, I knew that they had not told me the truth. They admited that it was sent out much later than they originally stated and could no longer remember if it was sent expedited or not. They ended up having to send me a second copy of the book, although I'm not sure that the first copy was ever sent. They did respond promptly to my emails, and they did appologize and send me a copy of a second book for free. But overall the process was very frustrating and confusing.

This book is a multi-author introductory textbook of critical care medicine directed at students and practitioners of medicine (ie. medical students, medical/surgical interns and residents). It is not directed at ancillary support staff (ie. nurses, techs etc).

It is edited by two experienced intensivists from Harbour-UCLA. Fred Bongard, MD is a trauma surgeon, while Darryl Sue, MD is a physician with a specialty interest in Intensive Care. The editors hope that their respective experience from both medical and surgical perspectives result in a work with a broad, comprehensive assessment of critical care principles and problems.

There are 40 chapters organized according to organ-system. The book is 924 pages long, excluding the (good) index. Most of the authors are from Harbour-UCLA, although there also appears to be many non-academic, private practice intensivists among the contributors.

I felt the coverage was overall very good for an introductory type textbook. Physiologic principles are explained well. Management options are described in some detail. In keeping with the Appleton-Lange series in general, the organization of the chapters is superb, with each subtopic following in logical order.

Some of the particularly commendable characteristics of this book include discussions of "Current Controversies" at the end of most chapters, and special chapters on burns, critical care in pregnancy, organ transplantation, care of elderly patients, transport, and even a special chapter on antithrombotics. Many of these issues are neglected in introductory textbooks.

Some downsides bear mention. The book was completed in the fall of 2002. However, there is a very considerable number of older references - there is nothing wrong with this; in fact, references to classic studies and trials is a good thing and shows a thorough understanding of research developments. However, I would have liked to have seen, in addition to this, references to some newer trials.

There are some inaccuracies and inconsistencies.

In Chapter 11: Shock, in discussing septic shock, no mention at all is made of the recently promulgated SIRS syndrome. This is despite the fact that the chapter was authored by the editor himself (Dr. Bongard)! Dr. Bongard uses the outdated "sepsis syndrome". Just four chapters away, in Chapter 15: Infections in the Critically Ill, the authors of that chapter define SIRS and state: " 'sepsis syndrome' and 'septicemia' should no longer be used."

Another criticism I have is that there is no separate chapter on airway management and mechanical ventilation. I know that the editors have decided to cover these issues in the chapter on respiratory disease, but I feel these central subjects in critical care deserve very detailed explication in chapters of their own.

Overall, a fine introduction to the field.

The author presents outdated information geared
for physicians practicing in the 20th century.
She fails to demonstrate sound technologically
advanced medical strategies for approaching
patient health in an era of growing challenges.
Hopefully she can revive her practice to accommodate
the expanding universe of medicine in an aging population
and offer her readers a substantial dialogue and application
of internal medicine.

This Third Edition of Society of Critical Care Medicine's Fundamental Critical Care Support by the Author of Society of Critical Care Medicine - Multidisciplinary Critical Care Review is required reading.

All this book has is ECG strips in which the student fills in a blank section of how the rhythm is classified or identified. This book does nothing to explain rhthyms or ECG's what so ever. Completely useless for any student learning ECG's! The worst book on the market!

This guide takes you from the begining of the electrocardiac cycle to the end, and throws you all the curves on the way. An excellant guide for the beginner, as I was when I first used it, and for my practice as an ICU RN. I keep it with me and refer to it often.

I really thought this book was going to give me perfect insight of what I needed to know when I could not get answers from doctors. Instead this book was poorly written, and did not give helpful information. The doctor that wrote this must be the kind of doctor that most of us get frustrated with when we need answers.

Recently one of my friends from school was hit by a car and was admitted into the Intensive Care Unit. I wanted to know what was wrong, but I couldn't get what i wanted from the doctors. Finally I was told about this book, and it was extremely helpful.

While I agree that for a true review you need a comprehensive text such as Rosens, this is very handy to have on you for the big picture at a quick galnce,and it is obviously easier to carry around in your work bag.

The Manual of Emergency Medicine by Braen and Jenkins is a basic text for those interested in the clinical practice of Emergency Medicine. All the basic topics are covered, and the text is well indexed to find the information you need.

The scope of the book, however, falls short of that needed for medical students, interns, residents, and certainly practicing emergency medicine specialists who need a comprehensive text-it is truly just a manual. The information is generally collected from other sources and texts in general emergency medicine that also do not address evidence based emergency medicine practice. The book tends to make treatment recommendations that are useful but again are not evidence based.

The sections on trauma, cardiac emergencies, and pulmonary problems are good, but the areas pertaining to toxicology, environmental emergencies, ob/gyn, neurology, and medical-legal need improvement.

Two very good alternative references are Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide by Judith Tintinalli, et al (5 stars) OR Emergency Medicine by Rosen and Barkin (4 stars). With either of these, you will never need to buy another major text in emergency medicine for years.

101

this is a good book for icu beginners, nurses tranferring into the unit, or just to have it as a refresher book.

this is a good book for icu beginners, nurses tranferring into the unit, or just to have it as a refresher book.

Very disappointed. Poorly laid out. Content is OK but not a good resource if you need information quickly. Not a good choice for nurses new to emergency nursing.

It's an excellent pocket reference, though you will need a fairly large pocket being the book is at least 1" thick and weighs a couple of pounds. It is a complete reference that includes assessment and procedure information. It would be invaluable to the new ER nurse and a handy reference even for the experienced nurse.

I have purchased these books in the past and found them to be very helpful. For some reason the book I received was pocket size and with the information it included, the print and pictures are just too small to be worth anything. Very difficult to read. Waste of money.

This little book tell all the important information that needs to be known. It is a great item for reviewing MI's. Has helped me with my grades.

I had to order this book twice. I kept requesting the Hardcover version and they kept sending me the soft cover one; and everytime I had to return the book I had to pay shipping charges and AMAZON pays only cents of the charges. I had used a gift certificate to buy the item and they only returned the money I had paid and not the gift certificate. I guess this is the last time I buy at AMAZON. POOR service.

This impressive 54-chapter volume is the first comprehensive clinical textbook for both students in acute care nurse practitioner (ACNP) programs and practicing acute care NPs. Its focus is on the core skills, pathophysiology, diagnostic reasoning, and therapeutics that comprise the "meat and potatoes" of the ACNP's daily work. This well-constructed, well-written book deserves a close look. It contains many interesting and unique features (useful tables, for instance) and has particularly strong coverage of cardiology and some surgical specialties. As well as being of obvious interest to NPs and NP educators in adult acute care (for whom it's a "must-have" book), and perhaps physician assistants, the sophistication of the coverage in some areas (cardiovascular medicine is one), would make it an excellent choice for clinical nurse specialists and educators.

I'm sure this is a good book for "seasoned physicians or residents in an urgent car rotation" but they must be paying residents more than in my day!In fact, I have been in practice for 30 years and wouldn't pay $1000 for this book. I guess I'll just have to muddle through without this knowledge.

The growing field of Urgent Care desperately needs guide books, and there are few. Part Family Practice, part Emergency Medicine, Urgent Care fills a huge gap in the US's faulty health care system. Edwards' and Mayer's book is an adequate primer. They manage to touch on most of what is seen; the format is clear; and each section has "red flags" to keep you out of trouble. A surprising amount of material is covered in a digestible space, and is hands-on and practical. A larger, more detailed text is needed, but if you have a background in clinical medicine, you can read this book a couple of times and get started.