OH’S INTENSIVE CARE MANUAL EIGHTH EDITION

Oh’s Intensive Care Manual first edition was in published 1979, when Intensive Care may not have been in
its infancy but it certainly wasn’t far beyond. Teik Oh,
with tremendous foresight, brought together the fundamental elements of managing the critically ill in a
particularly pragmatic manner, which could be considered a guideline for the development of the speciality.
Thirty-nine years on, the eighth edition reflects both
the maturation of that speciality and the phenomenal
progress medically, technically, scientifically, ethically
and educationally in all areas of management of the
critically ill.
As with previous editions, each and every chapter
has been updated, and there are many areas where
new sections reflect the changing nature of the speciality and the subtle shifts in emphasis in the work place.
A number of new authors have joined the contributor list, bringing their own expertise and a fresh look
at previous chapters. We particularly want to thank
‘retired’ authors for their hard work and contributions;
sometimes it’s hard to say it much better than before,
and their work has often been a firm base for the revision. New areas include chapters on fungal disease,
genetics and sepsis, with the previous chapter on lung
and heart transplantation now growing to two separate chapters – again reflecting the dynamic nature of
the specialty.
As before, we hope that this edition will achieve
several goals. It will update the previous edition in
terms of the changing knowledge base; it will address
emerging issues in Intensive Care; it will be of use to
medical, nursing and allied health staff and students;
but most importantly, it will adhere to the pragmatic
and clinically useful style so effectively promulgated
by Teik Oh. If a clinician can reach for it in the early
hours of the morning, and can easily locate the information they require and feel ether guided or reassured,
it will have served its purpose. If those passing examinations can say it helped, that will b