Part 1: Introduction -- Ch 1: How to use this book (Prof. Maurizio Cecconi, Dr Frantisek Duska, Dr Mo Al-Haddad) -- Part 2: Key concepts in intensive care medicine -- Ch 2: Identification and Initial Stablization of Acutely Deteriorated Patients (Dr. Nicholas F. Parchim, Dr Nathan D. Nielsen) -- Ch 3: ICU routines and bundles of care (Dr Anne Mecklenburg, Dr Maria Martinez Martinez, Dr Nathan D. Nielsen, Dr Sabrina Grossenbacher-Eggmann, Dr Carole Boulanger) -- Ch 4: Intra-hospital transport (Dr Anne Mecklenburg) -- Ch 5: Human factors and non-technical skills (Dr Rahul Costa-Pinto, Dr C Boullanger) -- Ch 6: Approach to difficult decisions and end-of-life care (Dr Frauke Weidanz) -- Part 3: Organ dysfunction and support -- Ch 7: Respiratory failure and respiratory support (Dr. Eumorfia Kondili, Dr Athanasia Proklou, Dr Georgos Prinianakis) -- Ch 8: Shock and Haemodynamic Monitoring (Dr Mo Al-Haddad) -- Ch 9: Disorders of consciousness (Dr Frauke Weidanz) -- Ch 9: Internal environment and acid base balance (Dr Frantisek Duska) -- Ch 10: Acute Kidney Injury (Dr Mo Al-Haddad, Dr Karin Belch) -- Ch 11: Sepsis and septic shock (Dr Anne Le Roy) -- Part 4: Common challenges and troubleshooting in ICU -- Ch 12: Hypoxia and ventilator asynchronies (Dr. Eumorfia Kondili, Dr Maria Mpolaki) -- Ch 13: Arrhythmias (Dr Katie Duncan, Dr Mo Al-Haddad) -- Ch 14: Bleeding (Dr Nathan D. Nielsen) -- Ch 15: Analgesia and Sedation (Dr Anne Mecklenburg, Dr Joana Berger-Estilita, Dr Ligia Pires) -- Ch 16: Delirium, agitation and sleep disturbances (Dr Joana Berger-Estilita, Dr Ligia Pires) -- Ch 17: Common Electrolyte Disturbances (Dr Niels Van Regenmortel, Dr Frantisek Duska) -- Ch 18: Failure to wean from mechanical ventilation (Dr Anne Mecklenburg). Back Matter -- Appendix 1: ICU drug chart (Dr Milada Halacova, Dr Carole Boulanger) -- Appendix 2: Useful checklists and algorhithms (Dr Anne Le Roy) -- Appendix 3: ICU trainee survival guide (Dr. Gabriel Garcia Rosenbaum)

This book, part of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) textbook series, is a graphical, dense and concise text describing fundamental theoretical concepts needed for doctors and other professionals new to the field of Intensive Care Medicine. The book serves two main purposes: as study material for any junior doctor, nurse or other allied healthcare professional who is time-pressured and wants to quickly learn the essentials; and as a course volume of new ESICM educational initiative called Intensive Care Fundamentals. The overarching goal of this initiative is to offer standardised high-quality introductory education to all starters in intensive care. There are two key elements of this initiative: the book, which is the prerequisite reading for attending the two day face-to-face course and the materials, registration of candidate and training and certifying the trainers that will be provided by ESICM