Main description:

Numerous treatment options are available to intensive care staff; this requires detailed knowledge of routes of administration and contra-indications to use in certain clinical conditions. Now in its fourth edition, this concise, practical handbook to drugs and prescribing for intensive care gives up-to-date advice on established drugs as well as providing advice on those recently approved. The book is divided into two sections: an A-Z guide to many of the drugs available, with concise information on each drug, including uses, limitations, administration directions and adverse effects. The second section contains topics relevant to the critically ill patients, including factors that may affect drug prescribing and management of medical emergencies. There is also a key data section showing weight conversions, BMI and corresponding dosage calculations, and an invaluable chart indicating drug compatibility for IV administration. This is an invaluable resource for doctors, nurses, and pharmacists caring for critically ill patients.

Contents:

Introduction; How to use this book; Abbreviations; Acknowledgements; Drugs: an A-Z guide; Short notes; Routes of administration; Loading dose; Drug metabolism; Enzyme systems; Drug excretion; Drug tolerance; Drug interactions; Therapeutic drug monitoring; Pharmacology in the critically ill; Cardiopulmonary resuscitation; Management of acute major anaphylaxis; Management of severe hyperkalaemia; Management of malignant hyperthermia; Sedation, analgesia and neuromuscular blockade; Management of status epilepticus; Management of delirium tremens and alcohol withdrawal syndrome; Anti-arrhythmic drugs; Inotropes and vasopressors; Bronchospasm; Anti-ulcer drugs; Immunonutrition in the ICU; Corticosteroids; Short synacthen test; Bone marrow rescue following nitrous oxide; Antioxidants; Prophylaxis following splenectomy; Anti-microbial drugs; Renal replacement therapy; Appendices: Appendix A. Creatinine clearance; Appendix B. Weight conversion (stones/lb to kg); Appendix C. BMI calculator; Appendix D. Lean body weight charts; Appendix E. Infusion rate/dose calculation; Appendix F. Drug compatibility chart; Appendix G. Omeprazole administration record; Appendix H. Drotrecogin prescribing criteria; Appendix I. Drotrecogin administration; Appendix J. Drotrecogin administration record; Appendix K. Continuous vancomycin infusion; Appendix L. Child-Pugh score; Drug Index.