Respiratory system and artificial ventilation are key topics when considering the main aspects of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine: assisted ventilation techniques are essential to preserve the patienta (TM)s life, but just as any other treatments they can be also extremely pernicious. Scientific research and clinical evidences are equally fundamental in investigating the best methods to provide effective support and increase positive outcomes. It is obviously desirable that this knowledge and know-how are widely shared among scientists and practitioners. With this purpose, the book includes contributions by an international panel of authors and gathers their varied and valuable expertise up to illustrate principles, study results and case experiences on respiratory physiopathology, respiratory mechanics, respiratory functions monitoring, artificial ventilation and diagnostic radiology in respiratory dysfunction failure. We trust it can represent a precious reference for professionals in their ongoing self-improvement process to increase skilfulness. Furthermore, we hope that this book can serve as a useful learning tool for medical students and can contribute to the education of future anaesthesiologists and intensivists Properties of the respiratory system Control of breathing Elastic and resistive properties of the respiratory system Flow limitation and its determination Intrinsic PEEP and its determination Interactions between pulmonary circulation and ventilation Monitoring respiratory mechanics in the ICU: Models, techniques and measurement methods Acute lung injury ARDS, controlled mechanical ventilation in ARDS and the open lung concept Pathophysiology of ARDS Ventilator-associated lung injury Controlled mechanical ventilation in ARDS The open lung concept in cardiac surgery patients Nosocomial pneumonia Diagnosis and treatment of nosocomial pneumonia Prone ventilation Prone ventilation to prevent ventilatory-associated pneumonia Prone positioning of patients with ARDS Prone ventilation in trauma patients Old and new artificial ventilation techniques Advanced modalities in negative-pressure ventilation High-frequency percussive ventilation Non-invasive ventilation Non-invasive ventilation in patients with acute respiratory failure and COPD or ARDS Non-invasive respiratory assistance in paediatric [pediatric] patients. Respiratory system and artificial ventilation are key topics when considering the main aspects of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine. This book includes contributions by an international panel of authors. It collects valuable expertise to illustrate principles, and to study results and case experiences on respiratory physiopathology, respiratory mechanics, respiratory functions monitoring, artificial ventilation and diagnostic radiology in respiratory dysfunction failure. Respiratory system and artificial ventilation are key topics when considering the main aspects of anaesthesiology and critical care medicine: they are essential to preserve the patient's life, but just as any other treatments they can be also extremely pernicious
