Mechanical Ventilation: Physiology and Practice, 2nd Edition Doody's Expert Review Review Questionnaire ISBN: 9780190670085 ISBN-10: 0190670088 Copyright: 2018 Edition: 2nd Editor: Kreit, John W. Doody's Expert Review    Score: 93 Doody's Star Rating™ and Doody's Expert Review provide by Doody Enterprises, Inc. Reviewer: David Dries,  MSE, MD  (Regions Hospital) Description This is the second edition of a well-written, single-author overview of mechanical ventilation, the defining therapy of contemporary critical care. It is part of the Pittsburgh Critical Care Medicine series. Purpose Rapid evolution in mechanical ventilation therapy has led to a bewildering terminology and an evolving literature regarding best practices. This book provides an excellent overview. Audience Trainees at all levels and staff physicians making use of mechanical ventilation will enjoy this pocket-sized monograph. Features The first of the book's three sections is a collection of physiological principles defining not only mechanical ventilation, but also relevant pulmonary physiology. Many of the graphics found on ventilators and the physical relationships defining ventilator function are explained in detail. A second section of three chapters describes basic ventilator modes, alarms, and settings. The third and largest group of presentations describes individual patient problems and preparation of ventilator therapy. A particularly impressive presentation reviews the literature regarding management of the acute respiratory distress syndrome, perhaps the most important challenge faced by intensivists using mechanical ventilation. Other presentations cover treatment of obstructive lung disease, right ventricular failure, and optimal discontinuation of mechanical ventilation support. A brief concluding chapter describes noninvasive ventilation. Chapters are well written in a conversational style, and benefit from being written by a single author. Line drawings are effectively constructed to review physiological concepts and tables with shading and highlights summarize physiological data. In addition to a simple table of contents, a detailed subject index includes individual citations for tables, boxes, and figures. Perhaps most important, each chapter lists a small number of papers representing recent summaries written by masters in this field. Assessment Given the rapid evolution in this aspect of critical care practice, this second edition is both welcome and necessary. Dr. Kreit effectively builds on the physiological principles by adding reviews of the literature describing the most recent studies guiding ventilator management of problems such as COPD and ARDS. Clinical strategy chapters can be read by themselves for effective review of individual topics. Review Questionnaire Range Question Score 1-10 Are the author's objectives met? 8 1-10 Rate the worthiness of those objectives. 10 1-5 Is this written at an appropriate level? 5 1-5 Is there significant duplication? (1=significant, 5=insignificant) 5 1-5 Are there significant omissions? (1=significant, 5=insignificant) 4 1-5 Rate the authority of the authors. 5 1-5 Are there sufficient illustrations? 5 1-5 Rate the pedagogic value of the illustrations. 5 1-5 Rate the print quality of the illustrations. 5 1-5 Are there sufficient references? 3 1-5 Rate the currency of the references. 4 1-5 Rate the pertinence of the references. 4 1-5 Rate the helpfulness of the index. 5 1-5 If important in this specialty, rate the physical appearance of the book 5 1-10 Is this a worthwhile contribution to the field? 10 1-10 If this is a 2nd or later edition, is this new edition needed? 10 ©2024 Doody Enterprises, Inc.