Hepatorenal Syndrome

Introduction Initial reports by Frerichs (1861) and Flint (1863) [1], who had noted an association between advanced liver disease with ascites and acute oliguric renal failure in the absence of significant histological changes in the kidneys, led Heyd [2], and later Helwig and Schutz [3], to introduce the concept of the hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) to explain the increased frequency of acute renal failure after biliary surgery....

VASCULAR ACCESS

INTRODUCTION He who works with his hands is a laborer.He who works with his head and his hands is a craftsman.St. Francis of AssisiThe care of critically ill patients requires one or more pipelines to the vascular system, for both monitoring and interventions. This chapter presents some guidelines for the insertion of vascular catheters, including a brief description of the common percutaneous access routes (1-3). The emphasis...

THE THREAT OF OXIDANT INJURY

INTRODUCTION All human things are subject to decay.John Dryden The treatment of critically ill patients is dominated by the notion that promoting the supply of oxygen to the vital organs is a necessary and life-sustaining measure. Oxygen is provided in a liberal and unregulated fashion, while the tendency for oxygen to degrade and decompose organic (carbon-based) matter is either overlooked or underestimated. In contrast to the...