CRITICAL CARE TOXICOLOGY: DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF THE CRITICALLY POISONED PATIENT

Abstract

CRITICAL CARE TOXICOLOGY: DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF THE CRITICALLY POISONED PATIENT Editors: Jeffrey Brent, MD, PhD; Kevin L. Wallace, MD; Keith K. Burkhart, MD; Scott D. Phillips, MD; Ward J. Donovan, MD Bibliographic Data: Elsevier, 2005. ISBN: 0815143877, 1690 pages, hard cover, $175. Reviewer's Expert Opinion: Description: This book focuses on the general and specific management of critically ill poisoned patients. Purpose: A comprehensive review is provided of critical care management of severely poisoned patients. The book meets the editors' objectives. Audience: It is written for intensivists and critical care practitioners as well as trainees in critical care medicine and medical toxicology. The editors are well known and highly respected in the medical toxicology community. Features: The book is divided into eight sections and includes color figures that illustrate classic toxicologic findings or toxin-induced pathology. The first section thoroughly covers general management issues, such as gastrointestinal decontamination, common complications in poisoned patients, and intensive care of pediatric poisoned patients. The next section thoroughly reviews toxic syndromes, abused drugs, biologic toxins, and chemical agents. Chapters are generally well written and easy to navigate through the headings and subheadings. One unique and especially helpful feature is indication for ICU admission and criteria for ICU discharge. At the end of many of the chapters there is a brief summary table containing key points. There are nearly 160 contributors from 14 different countries. Assessment: This is a comprehensive work packed with useful information for evaluating and managing severely poisoned patients. Although controversial issues are reviewed in the carbon monoxide chapter, a conservative approach to hyperbaric oxygen therapy is strongly suggested. The book takes the clinician a step deeper into the pathophysiology and management of critically ill toxicology patients compared to current popular toxicology texts (Goldfrank's Toxicologic Emergencies, 7th edition, by Goldfrank et al. (McGraw-Hill, 2002), and Clinical Toxicology by Ford et al. (W.B. Saunders, 2001). This is a valuable and much needed addition to the critical care library. Reviewer: Carson R. Harris, MD Regions Hospital