Foreword -- Preface -- Chapter 1 Enzymes and Coenzymes -- Chapter 2 Anaerobic Glycolysis or Embden-Meyerhof Pathway -- Chapter 3 The Tricarboxylic Acids Cycle or Krebs Cycle -- Chapter 4 The Collateral Glutamate - GABA Cycle -- Chapter 5 The Pentose Cycle or Direct Oxidative Pathway (DOP) (The Sleep Pathway) -- Chapter 6 Neurotransmitters -- Chapter 7 The Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) -- Chapter 8 Shock -- Chapter 9 Cerebral Edema -- Chapter 10 The Pulmonary Surfactant -- Chapter 11 When the Mind Does Not Work As It Should -- Chapter 12 Thiamine (Vitamin B1) -- Chapter 13 Normobaric Oxygen Therapy (NBO) -- Chapter 14 The Acid - Base equilibrium -- Chapter 15 Theories of Narcosis -- Chapter 16 Local Anaesthetics -- Chapter 17 Perineural Adjuvants -- Chapter 18 The Grand Design -- Chapter 19 Epilogue and Farewell.

This book discusses and explains the importance of biochemistry knowledge in understanding what happens to patients during anesthesia and/or to those being in intensive care. It covers a wide range of topics, such as Cerebral Edema, Shock, Blood-Brain Barrier, The Pulmonary surfactant, The Acid - Base equilibrium, Local anaesthetics, Perineural adjuvants, Normobaric Oxygen Therapy, Theories of Narcosis. Hyperventilation effects and consequences are also presented. For instance, by hyperventilating a patient with a PaCO2 significantly below 25 mmHg, we risk blocking pyruvic acid carboxylation and transforming it into oxalacetic acid, which in turn knocks out the Krebs cycle, possibly leading to a complication, i.e. to metabolic acidosis and not to compensation for respiratory alkalosis. It is also worth remembering that vitamins are actually molecules of pretty considerable potency and should not be simply intended as integrators. If we inject a patient under intensive care with vitamin C, this not only plays a capillary-protective role but facilitates the conversion of dopamine to noradrenaline. As far as vitamin B6 goes, not only is it the most natural of antiemetics but the coenzyme responsible for transforming glutamate as one of the most powerful excitatory mediators into GABA, one of the fiercest inhibitors. Anesthesiological and intensive care practice require a detailed biochemistry knowledge to avoid onset of complications and/or to deal with unexpected events promptly and appropriately. The book is intended for anesthesiologists, intensivists, anesthesia teachers, anesthesia trainees and residents.